Tuesday, January 3, 2017 – Edition: #5881

Good Morning, Sheetheads!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Carrie Fisher’s death could mean $50 million for Disney. For those already cynical about how Disney will probably “shamelessly [CGI] Carrie Fisher’s face into Episode IX”, as one Twitter user predicts, here’s another reason to be bitter: Disney could actually be reaping quite a windfall from Fisher’s death as the company took out an insurance policy just in case Fisher couldn’t complete her contract for “Star Wars” episodes VII, VIII, and IX. If it does indeed pay out its $50 million value, it will be the largest single personal accident insurance claim of all-time.
– “New York Post”
★ Mariah Carey’s people are incensed Dick Clark Productions is trying to lay the blame on her for the New Year’s Eve fiasco on live TV. Mariah’s team believes DCP ‘sabotaged’ her performance in order to score big ratings for “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”. She claims she and her team repeatedly told production people the earpiece was not working but they assured her it would be fine when she got onstage and performed. As you likely now know … it did not. Dick Clark Productions says Mariah’s claim of sabotage is defamatory. But she’s incredulous, saying she did them a favor after they begged for her to sing, and she did it for free.
– TMZ.com
★ Emma Watson is due to star as ‘Belle’ in the upcoming live-action version of “Beauty & The Beast” (out March 17th) but her songs have been kept secret … until now. The star’s singing voice has unexpectedly been revealed courtesy of a ‘Belle’ doll, released prior to the film. A fan spotted that the doll’s voice included snippets of Emma singing “Something There” from the classic Disney film. The official “Beauty & The Beast” Twitter account has since released a first official snippet of the song hours after the discovery and fans have been complimenting Emma’s singing voice. Says one: “Is there anything she can’t do?”
NET: http://tinyurl.com/hbee3cx
– HelloMagazine.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Mike Posner *”At Night, Alone”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Guided by Voices (“Please Be Honest”).
• “Late Late Show With James Corden” (CBS/CTV) – Janelle Monáe (“The Electric Lady”).
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV) – Against Me! drummer Atom Willard sits in.
• “Tavis Smiley” (PBS) – Bonnie Raitt (“Dig in Deep”). Rerun.
• “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV2) – Justin Timberlake (“Can’t Stop the Feeling”). Rerun.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ariana Grande – She has a role in the “Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius” mobile game. She appears dressed in a black latex bunny costume and functions by casting spells in the game. The RPG game is free for Android and Apple phone owners.
• Britney Spears – She’s introduced her rumored new boyfriend Sam Asghari on social media to celebrate the New Year. The pair initially met when filming Britney’s “Slumber Party” video and sparked dating rumors after being seen out together on a number of occasions.
• Drake – He’s been crowned “GQ” magazine’s ‘Best-Dressed Man’ for 2016. The “One Dance” hitmaker tops the list just ahead of “Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them” star Eddie Redmayne.
• Ed Sheeran – The 25-year-old Brit singer-songwriter has announced the end of his hiatus from music by announcing new material arriving this Friday. He’s previously promised his 3rd album will be “the best thing I have made so far”.
• George Michael – His partner Fadi Fawaz says he did not see the singer on the night of his death and fell asleep in his car instead. The 53-year-old was found dead at his home in Goring-on-Thames on Christmas Day. Fawaz also denies sending tweets speculating about the cause of death, claiming his Twitter account was hacked.
• Jason Derulo – He’s confirmed he’s releasing a new album in 2017. The 27-year-old, whose last recording was 2015’s “Everything is 4”, says he’s preparing for the release of his 5th album later this year.
• Of Mice & Men – The band’s singer and founder Austin Carlile’s health issues have forced him to step away from the group. Carlile suffers from Marfan Syndrome, a fibrostic connective tissue disorder that makes touring difficult and painful.

THIS WEEK’S VIDEO RELEASES:
Coming out on DVD, Netflix, Google Play and/or other video providers …
• “Blair Witch” ( R-Rated Horror Thriller ): A sequel of sorts to 1999’s “Blair Witch Project”. After discovering a video showing what he believes to be his vanished sister ‘Heather’, ‘James’ and a group of friends head to the forest believed to be inhabited by the ‘Blair Witch’. Stars James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Corbin Reid.
• “Denial” ( PG-13 Biographical Drama ): Acclaimed writer & historian Deborah E Lipstadt must battle for historical truth to prove the Holocaust actually occurred when David Irving, a renowned denier, sues her for libel. Based on Lipstadt’s memoir. Stars Rachel Weisz, Tom Wilkinson, and Timothy Spall.
• Also being released: “Bones: Season 11” (TV); “Girls: The Complete 5th Season” (TV); and “Jerry Maguire 20th Anniversary Edition (Re-release).

WAYS CHRISTMAS TREES ARE REUSED AFTER THE HOLIDAYS:
• Underwater Ecosystems – The branches of dead spruces, firs, and pines provide a hiding place from predators and attract food for fish to nibble on in artificial reefs.
• Sand Dunes – Recycled Christmas trees are laid out on beaches and held in place between parallel fences. The sand blows over and … voila! Big sand hill.
• Zoo Fun – Zebras munch on the needles, squirrel monkeys swing from branch-to-branch, and otters play games of ‘smell-and-seek’ with treats hidden in the recycled trees by zookeepers.
• Marshland Restoration – Recycled trees are used to stuff pre-built wooden pens surrounding vulnerable coastal wetlands. The shoreline behind the barricade is thus better protected.
• Energy Source – Trees get fed to a wood chipper, and part of the mulch that comes out is sent to power plants for incineration. Each tree is transformed into about 36¢-worth of energy.
• Hiking Trails – The mulch used to cushion many forest trails is made from old Christmas trees. One advantage is the mulch doesn’t have any invasive species or seeds.
• Gardens – Plenty of municipalities pulverize discarded Christmas trees for use in parks and public spaces. Some allow residents to pick up free mulch for use on private property.
– MentalFloss.com

SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN WAYS TO STICK TO YOUR RESOLUTIONS:
✓ To feel more fulfilled, volunteer.
✓ To be more creative, make art when you’re happy.
✓ To be more productive, take more breaks.
✓ To experience greater happiness, travel more.
✓ To quit smoking, don’t go at it alone.
✓ To save more money, restrict your access to it.
✓ To form new habits, give them more time to stick.
✓ Choose a resolution that doesn’t require willpower.
(“I resolve to gain 10 lbs and binge-watch more Netflix.”)
– “The Atlantic”

PIZZA-PROOF PJs:
The new wipe-clean onesie from Domino’s purportedly makes eating pizza a safer activity … for your clothing, at least. It’s being called a ‘gag garment’ designed to create publicity, but it really might have some practical use. The onesie is a collaboration between fashion designer Charlotte Denn and Domino’s UK. It combines stain-proof fabric with soft velveteen for ultimate resilience and comfort. It’s said to be the result of research revealing that 73% of people change into pajamas or other comfortable clothes when they get home from work each day. All proceeds from Domino’s sales of the limited-edition garment go to charities, including Teenage Cancer Trust. (These might actually be popular if they weren’t so ugly.)
NET: http://tinyurl.com/zz9uor9
– “Metro”

AMAZING FEATURES ON NEW CRUISE SHIPS FOR 2017:
✓ ‘Norwegian Joy’ (Norwegian Cruise Line) – A 2-level race car track, hovercraft bumper cars, laser tag, simulator rides, and interactive video walls.
✓ ‘Viking Sky’ (Viking Cruise Lines) – 3 pools and a ‘snow grotto’ in the spa, where snowflakes fall from the ceiling.
✓ ‘Silver Muse’ (Silversea) – Claims to offer more dining options than any other ultra-luxury ship, with 8 restaurants. It will call at 130 ports in 34 countries in 2017.
✓ ‘MSC Meraviglia’ (MSC Line) – A 2-deck interior promenade styled like a Mediterranean village, packed with shops, bars, and speciality dining, covered by a large LED dome ceiling.
✓ ‘Flying Clipper’ (Star Clippers) – The largest square-rigger in the world, powered by 35 sails. It has 3 pools and a watersports platform, and relies on wind power whenever possible.
✓ ‘Majestic Princess’ (Princess Cruises) – Based in Shanghai, China, it features a glass-bottomed walkway … 128 ft / 39 m above the ocean.
(What amenity would you like to see on a cruise ship? Bungie jumping into the sea, perhaps?)
– Shipmonk.co.uk

FOR THE RECORD:
One of the more popular automotive-related urban legends is the tale of ‘nothing but green’, in which a driver claims to have hit ‘x’ number of green lights in-a-row while driving through a city. But NYC ride-share driver Noah Forman actually did hit 240 green lights while driving through Manhattan, and his dash-cam footage has been posted in real time on Vimeo to prove it. The run of green lasted an unbelievable 26 minutes. (During morning rush hour, hitting 2 in-a-row seems like a big win.)
– BoingBoing.net

DID YOU KNOW?
There are almost twice as many rats in Paris, France as people.
– “The Guardian”

THE BULL SHEET 01.03.17

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1956 [61] Mel Gibson, Peekskill NY, movie producer/director (“Hacksaw Ridge”, “The Passion Of the Christ”)/movie actor (“Lethal Weapon” series, “Mad Max” series)

1975 [42] Thomas Bangalter, Paris, France, electronica musician (Daft Punk-“Starboy” w/The Weeknd, “Get Lucky” f/Pharrell Williams)

1981 [36] Eli Manning, New Orleans LA, NFL quarterback (2X Super Bowl MVP-NY Giants)/brother of retired QB Peyton Manning/son of NFL veteran Archie Manning

1985 [32] Mark Pontius, LA CA, indie pop-rock drummer (Foster the People-“Don’t Stop”, “Pumped Up Kicks”)

1986 [31] Nash Overstreet, Nashville TN, pop-rock guitarist-vocalist (Hot Chelle Rae-“Tonight Tonight”)/son of country music singer-songwriter Paul Overstreet

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Chocolate Covered Cherry Day”. Just what you need … an excuse to pork on yet another pound!

• “Drinking Straw Day”, celebrating its invention on this date in 1888. Drinking straws were hand-rolled until 1905. How’d kids blow bubbles in their milk before they were invented?

• “Festival of Sleep Day”, as declared by some anonymous walking zombie somewhere. Thanks to a combination of late hours, alcohol, rich foods, exposure to unfamiliar surroundings, and artificial light deep into the night over the holiday season, experts say most of us build up ‘sleep debt’, a condition which can affect how well we sleep for weeks afterward.

• “Fruitcake Toss Day”, your opportunity to finally throw away the old fruitcake. After the holidays are over, it’s time to bring in the new, and toss out the old. Today is the day that the fruitcake goes. Make it into a real event … go for distance!

• “JRR Tolkien’s Birthday” (1892-1973), the 125th anniversary of his birth in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The Oxford University professor of English Language & Literature first published “The Hobbit” in 1937, and the “Lord Of the Rings” trilogy in 1954-55 … for which his heirs should now be extremely grateful!

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2013 [04] Movie actor Gerard Depardieu is granted citizenship by Russian president Vladimir Putin after he renounces his French citizenship due to the country’s high taxes

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
2002 [15] Liam & Noel Gallagher of Oasis top a poll on the celebrities you would least like to live next to, getting 40% of the vote

2004 [13] Britney Spears weds hometown pal Jason Alexander at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas and then, 55 hours later, has the union annulled

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1987 [30] The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducts its 1st female artist, Aretha Franklin

TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
1992 [25] Bernard Moeller of Pennsylvania gets his 14,000th tattoo, leading to a listing in the “Guinness Book of World Records” as ‘Person With the Most Individual Tattoo Designs’

2014 [03] According to the ‘Bloomberg Billionaires Index’, the net worth of the 300 richest people in the world collectively increased by $524 billion and the group has an aggregate net worth of $3.7 trillion

COMING UP . . .
[Wed] Trivia Day
[Wed] World Braille Day
[Wed] World Hypnotism Day
[Thurs] Bird Day
[Thurs] Consumer Electronics Show 2017 begins (Las Vegas NV)
This Week Is … Lose Weight/Feel Great Week
This Month Is … Skating Month

BULL’S BITS

MORE BS QUESTIONS PLAGUING HUMANITY:
How do you ‘give’ someone your word and then ‘keep’ it?
Why is a boxing ring square?
Why do you have to pay for things in a ‘gift’ shop?
Why do we wait until a pig is dead before we start to cure it?
How do you ‘redouble’ your effort on a single task?
Do “Transformers” get car insurance or life insurance?
Why is it called a ‘hamburger’ if it’s made of beef?
Why are there flotation devices under airplane seats instead of parachutes?

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What was your biggest purchase in 2016? Are you happy with it or do you regret it?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Yesterday I knew nothing. Today I know that.

BS WEB GOODIE:
This might make for a good guessing game. Every country’s top tourist attraction …
MAP: http://tinyurl.com/j4w64y5
SPREADSHEET: http://tinyurl.com/h8vkjjl

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
Which do most survey respondents select as the luxury they’d most like to have?
a. Butler or maid. (20%)
b. Getting as much sleep as they want. (18%)
c. Personal trainer. (13%)
[Those are the top 3, in order.]

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: About 95% of us have one of THESE but ironically most of us never clean it.
Answer: Vacuum cleaner.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Most of what you want to accomplish in life will never get done.