BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ This week you may be seeing a verified symbol on some Tinder profiles … but only if they’re famous. Now when notable public figures, celebrities, and athletes appear in your dating recommendations, you’ll know it’s for real. Much like similar profiles on Twitter and Facebook, verified profiles will feature a blue checkmark next to the user’s name. The verified accounts allow these famous folks to use their real names on Tinder while keeping their fake Facebook names intact. And, of course, it also let’s you know if you’re really flirting with a star. (Now if we can just get J-Law to swipe right …)
– Canoe.com
★ Sarah Palin has a new book coming out, “Sweet Freedom: A Devotional”, which features some 260 ‘meditations’ that apply ‘biblical principles’ to contemporary issues. The former Alaska governor and Republican vice-presidential candidate has published 3 previous books, most notably the million-selling “Going Rogue”. The new tome is due for publication this November. (Don’t fail to miss it!)
– AP
★ And Netflix has just announced premiere dates for its first batch of original films. Cary Fukunaga’s “Beasts of No Nation” leads off the schedule October 16th. It stars Idris Elba as a Nigerian warlord who mentors a child soldier. Next up is “The Ridiculous Six”, the 1st of Adam Sandler’s 4 original comedy films to be made exclusively for the streaming service. It debuts December 11th. And “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday”, the 3rd feature film for Paul Reuben’s bow-tie wearing character, hits Netflix exclusively in March 2016. (It’s unlikely these offerings have movie theaters quivering in their boots.)
– ContactMusic.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• Comic-Con International (San Diego CA) – The much-imitated annual festival of fandom through Sunday features never-before-seen film trailers, first-look footage, A-list talent, and the usual array of fan-made superhero costumes. Tonight Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter appears in a panel discussion about his new zombie Western movie, “Dead West”.
NET: https://secure.comic-con.org/cci
• “Dates” (CW) – A Brit series that follows first dates between people who’ve met online makes its North American debut.
• “Dominion” (Syfy) – In the 2nd season premiere, an army of angels rage war on mankind in a post-apocalyptic future.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CTV2) – Sam Hunt (“Montevallo”). Rerun.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Miguel (“Wildheart”). Rerun.
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – The Budos Band (“Burnt Offering”). Rerun.
• “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV) – Desaparecidos (“Payola”). Rerun.
• Québec Summer Festival (Québec City QC) – The massive 11-day festival incorporates 300 shows on 10 stages. This year’s headliners are Foo Fighters and the Rolling Stones. Also on tap: Boston, Deep Purple, Iggy Azalea, Interpol, Keith Urban, Nickelback, Royal Blood.
NET: http://www.infofestival.com/Home/
• “Queen Latifah” (syndicated) – Big & Rich (“Gravity”). Rerun.
• “The Talk” (CBS) – Hunter Hayes (“Storyline”).
• “The View” (ABC/CTV) – Tori Kelly (“Unbreakable Smile”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Breaking Benjamin – They’ll headline the inaugural “Axes & Anchors” music cruise, which departs Miami FL on February 20, 2016 and sails to Key West and the Bahamas. During the 5-day sail, the group plays 2 live sets, hosts a Q&A, and participates in a meet-and-greet.
• Ed Sheeran – He’s purchased a humble Mini Cooper to drive despite buying a plush Porsche as a bonus for his sound engineer. His One Direction buddy Harry Styles urged him to buy himself an Aston Martin instead.
• Kelly Rowland – E! News reports the former Destiny’s Child member is appearing on FOX-TV’s hit show “Empire” next season. She joins previously announced Season 2 guest-stars Alicia Keys, Chris Rock, Lenny Kravitz, and Oprah Winfrey.
• Luke Bryan – His 5th studio album, “Kill the Lights”, is out August 7th. It’s the follow-up to his most successful project to date, “Crash My Party”. Bryan himself is a co-writer on 6 of the new album’s 13 tracks, one of which is a duet with Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild.
• Michael Bublé – The Canadian crooner has announced his wife Luisana Lopilato is expecting their 2nd baby. 39-year-old Bublé and Lopilato (28) wed in 2011. Their 1st child, Noah, was born in Vancouver BC in 2013.
• One Direction – The North American leg of their “On The Road Again 2015” stadium tour kicks off tonight 9 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego CA. The 22-date trek runs through December 9th in Boston MA.
• Shinedown – Tonight their Summer tour playing theaters and other intimate venues gets underway in St Petersburg FL. They’re performing a set that includes classic hits, deep cuts, and new songs from the band’s upcoming 5th studio album. Nothing More is the support act.
• Taylor Swift – Her “Blank Space” video has become the fastest clip to hit 1 billion views on Vevo. It’s also her 1st video to reach that milestone on the music video website.
• U2 – Tonight they premiere the new video “Song for Someone” on Sundance TV as part of the 3rd season debut episode of “Rectify”. The short film stars Woody Harrelson as a man getting out of prison. It also features his daughter, Zoe Harrelson.

COMING ATTRACTIONS:
A BS selection of movies in the making …
• “Catherine the Great” – 40-year-old actress/director Angelina Jolie (“Unbroken”) is set to make a bio-pic about the 18th-century Empress of Russia who led a war against the Ottoman Empire. Her production company, Jolie Pas, has purchased screen rights to Simon Sebag Montefiore’s book “Catherine the Great & Potemkin: The Imperial Love Affair”.
• “Grand Theft Auto” – Actor Daniel Radcliffe is in talks to star in a new drama about the creator of the popular videogame. The former ‘Harry Potter’ star would play Sam Houser, the Brit-born co-founder of software developer Rockstar Games. The screenplay is based on the book “Jacked: The Outlaw Story of Grand Theft Auto”, which was published in 2012.
• ‘Han Solo Movie’ – Disney has announced a “Star Wars” spin-off, with “Lego Movie” directors Christopher Miller & Phil Lord behind the cameras. The untitled prequel follows the pre-‘Princess Leia’ days of heroic character ‘Han Solo’ and how he became the smuggler, thief, and scoundrel played by Harrison Ford in the original film. The movie’s due out in May 2018.

IDLE COMPETITION:
A contest where participants are required to do nothing has been held in one of the busiest areas of Beijing, China as some 80 people gathered on a major shopping street to take part in the “International Space Out Competition”. Their challenge is to sit still, oblivious to the distractions of their surroundings, for 2 hours. Music and smartphones are forbidden as are any large or sudden movements. Contestants’ composure isn’t just observed externally; they’re also checked for a steady heart-rate. First held in Seoul, South Korea in 2014, the competition is now an annual affair. This year, competitor Xin Shiyu has claimed victory after 2 hours of successfully ignoring the world around him. (Basically, it’s Main Street meditation.)
– Xinhua News Agency

WHY WOMEN LIVE LONGER THAN MEN:
Just 2 of the world’s 53 living super-centenarians (110 and older) are men, but a new study has found that women’s superior longevity is a fairly recent phenomenon. Before 1840, death rates were very similar between men and women. But since those rates began to plummet in 1880 thanks to improved diet, vaccinations, and better healthcare, female death rates have dropped 70% faster than male rates, and heart disease seems to be holding men back the most. Men seem more biologically susceptible to cardiovascular problems, and their different weight distribution could be part of the reason. The international team of researchers plans to further explore the differences between male and female biology, genetics, and lifestyles to look for more answers. (It’s simple, guys die younger because they do stupid guy things.)
– LiveScience.com

DIGITAL DANGER:
A campaign to make young people think twice before snapping selfies in dangerous situations has been launched by the Russian government. The authorities want to deter people from taking risks just to impress friends on social media. The interior ministry’s ‘Safe Selfie’ campaign is a response to a spate of incidents in which young people were seriously injured, or in some cases killed, while trying to take pictures of themselves. The campaign’s motto is: “Even a million ‘likes’ on social media are not worth your life and well-being.” An illustrated booklet has been issued warning about dangerous selfie scenarios, including snapping a photo while halfway up an electricity pylon, standing in front of an oncoming train, or posing near a wild animal. (Should smartphones require a licence to weed out stupid people?)
– “Izvestia”

WHAT’S BIGGER THAN JUMBO?
Airbus has filed a patent for a massive double-deck aircraft that could improve upon it’s current top-line airliner, the A380. Drawings of the new behemoth show elements from the A380, the Airbus Beluga freighter aircraft, and the Russian Antonov cargo aircraft. The idea is to accommodate passengers and their luggage as well as ‘profitable cargo’, which can generate up to 20% of an airline’s earnings. Carrying enough fuel to make long-range trips is also a priority. The problem in developing such an aircraft may be that the plus-sized A380, currently the world’s largest passenger airliner, is already too big for some airports, requiring new oversized runways. (Give me 40 acres to turn this rig around …)
– RoadWarriorVoices.com

RIDING SHOTGUN:
In its never-ending quest to be different, Volvo thinks it may have come up with a cool idea to help parents deal with babies in the car. Instead of strapping the kid into a child seat in back, Volvo is tinkering with the idea of taking out the front passenger seat and creating a pedestal. On it would be a swiveling baby carrier. That way, one parent can sit in the backseat facing the child. And the carrier can swivel towards the door to make it easier to get baby out of the car. Volvo showed off the new concept recently when unveiling its new XC90 crossover vehicle at the Shanghai Auto Show in China. (The downside of your baby facing you … spit-ups.)
NET: http://tinyurl.com/oah6vzn
– USAToday.com

DID YOU KNOW?
Rats dream about the places they want to go.
– “New Scientist”

BS CHRONOMETER 07.09.15

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1952 [63] John Tesh, Garden City NY, syndicated radio host (“Intelligence For Your Life With John Tesh” (15 million listeners in the US, Canada, and UK)/quasi-musician (“Power of Love”)

1956 [59] Tom Hanks, Concord CA, movie actor (Oscars-“Forrest Gump”, “Philadelphia”)

1964 [51] Courtney Love (Harrison), San Francisco CA, TV actress (“Revenge” 2015, “Sons of Anarchy” 2014)/movie actress (“People vs Larry Flynt”)/rock singer (Hole-“Nobody’s Daughter”)/Mrs Kurt Cobain (1992-94)

1968 [47] Xavier Muriel, San Antonio TX, rock drummer (Buckcherry-“Gluttony”, “Sorry”)

1975 [40] Jack White (Gillis), Detroit MI, rock musician (“Lazaretto”, The Raconteurs-“Steady As She Goes”, White Stripes-“Seven Nation Army”)/movie actor (“Cold Mountain”)

1975 [40] Isaac Brock, Helena MT, indie rock singer-guitarist (Modest Mouse-“Lampshades on Fire”, “Float On”)

1984 [31] Jacob Hoggard, Surrey BC, pop-rock singer (Hedley-“Kiss You Inside Out”, “On My Own”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Independence Day” in South Sudan, celebrating it’s separation from Sudan in 2011.

• “Sugar Cookie Day”, honoring the cookie that is so delicious, yet so simple. All you need is sugar, flour, butter, eggs, vanilla, and baking powder. (Mmm, smells so good!)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2004 [11] The movie “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” opens in theaters

2014 [01] Businesswoman & co-founder of Ford Models, Eileen Ford, dies at age 92

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1999 [16] Mick Jagger’s marriage to model Jerry Hall is officially annulled in a London court, eliminating 8 years of marriage and a 22-year relationship (and about $37 million)

1999 [16] Elton John checks into London’s Wellington hospital to have a pacemaker installed due to an irregular heartbeat

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2002 [13] To the boos of disappointed fans the MLB All-Star game in Milwaukee WI finishes in a 7-7 tie after 11 innings when both teams run out of pitchers

TODAY’S RECORDS . . .
2005 [10] Daredevil skateboarder Danny Way uses a large ramp to jump over the Great Wall of China, becoming the 1st to clear the wall without motorized aid

2006 [09] The Fiat 500 Club Italia organizes the ‘World’s Largest Parade of Fiat Cars’, from Villanova d’Albenga to Garlenda, Italy (500 of them, of course)

COMING UP . . .
[Fri] “Minions” opens in movie theaters
[Fri] T In the Park festival begins (Strathallan Castle, Scotland)
[Fri] Piña Colada Day
[Sat] Cheer Up the Lonely Day
[Sat] World Population Day
[Sun] “Masters of Sex”, “Ray Donovan” season debuts (Showtime)
This Week Is … Creative Maladjustment Week
This Month Is … Horseradish Month

BULL’S BITS

RAISING YOUR FIRST VS YOUR SECOND CHILD:
PARTIES …
First Kid: In your backyard with a store-bought piñata perfectly suspended from the maple tree.
Second Kid: Pizza on the floor.
NIGHTTIME ROUTINE …
First Kid: Swaddled in a Miracle Blanket. “Baby Beluga” sung to her. Asleep by 7:30.
Second Kid: Falls asleep on the sofa with mom’s boob in his mouth at 10:30.
FRIENDS …
First Kid: Playgroups, mommy & baby get-togethers in the park.
Second Kid: His brother’s friends.
SHOES …
First Kid: Something European with an umlaut in its name.
Second Kid: Old muddy shoes with faded umlaut and missing sole insert.
BABYSITTER …
First Kid: A wonderful woman found through an agency, whom your kid loves and will cherish the rest of her life.
Second Kid: Doesn’t have one. You never go out.
– From “This Is Ridiculous This Is Amazing: Parenthood in 71 Lists”, by Jason Good.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
In the original stage version of “The Wizard of Oz”, Dorothy’s companion isn’t a dog named Toto. Which is it?
a. A horse named Dobbin.
b. A cow named Imogene. [CORRECT]
c. A slug named Bruce.
– “Mental Floss”

BS PHONE STARTER:
☎ What’s the worst/best drunken online purchase you’ve ever made?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Today is a day for firm decisions! Or is it?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  While on vacation, THIS is the biggest complaint from travelers staying in hotels.
Answer: Noisy neighbors.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
3-out-of-4 us make up 75% of the population.