Friday, June 29, 2001 Edition: #2088
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
TOMORROW is the official opening of the $11-million ‘Shania Twain Centre’ in Timmins ON, featuring — well, Shania stuff (http://www.shaniatwaincentre.com/) . . . Woody Harrelson tells “Premiere” magazine that he was so shaken up by a friend’s recent bicycle accident that he quit smoking pot – for 4 WHOLE DAYS (no sacrifice is too great for a true friend) . . . Kevin Costner has offered $10 million to anyone who has proof that he has had affairs (we’ll give $1 billion to anyone who proves he can act) . . . Who has the bigger ego – former “Riverdance” star Michael Flatley, now touring with his new “Feet of Flames” Celtic show, who claims his legs are insured for $50 million, or Sean “Puffy” Combs who says he fully expects to win not 1, but 2 Oscars someday? . . . Brad Pitt has reportedly had a special surveillance camera installed in the back of his Range Rover so he can make sure no one follows him home (hey Brad, tried the rearview mirror?) . . . And Nicole Kidman has reportedly concealed her children in a place where soon-to-be-ex Tom Cruise can’t get at them (the top shelf?).
TODAY’S MOVIE OPENINGS:
Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi drama “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” tells a tale of a mid-21st Century boy robot (Haley Joel Osment) who’s out of place among humans and machines (director Stanley Kubrick’s final project that Spielberg picked up and completed after his death) . . . “Boyz N the Hood” director John Singleton revisits inner-city Los Angeles with “Baby Boy”, the street story of a misguided young man played by Tyrese Gibson . . . Kirsten Dunst plays a congressman’s daughter who defiantly becomes involved with Hispanic honors student Jay Hernandez in the romance “crazy/beautiful” (“Romeo & Juliet” at Pacific Palisades High) . . . In the comedy “Pootie Tang”, ‘Pootie Tang’ (Lance Crouther) is a crime fighter and recording artist who battles evil ‘Dick Lecter’ (Robert Vaughn), CEO of a huge corporation who tries to get kids to smoke, drink and eat fast food (you can tell from the title this ain’t Oscar material) . . . “Pandaemonium”, touted as one of the top movies at the 2000 Toronto Film Festival, is the no-star story of friendship and betrayal between 2 poets during the French Revolution (it se. . . oh sorry did I nod off there?).
TOO STUPID FOR US TO MAKE UP:
• Approximately 10,000 locusts PER SQUARE YARD have been counted in China’s Xinjiang province. In a desperate counter-attack, the Chinese government has released several
hundred thousand highly-trained — ducks.
• Overworked nurses at a hospital in Lecco, Italy have been asked to use roller-skates to get around the hospital faster. (Ah! The solution to our nursing problems in Nova Scotia and BC.)
• Kuwait is launching an inquiry into how its Defence Ministry managed to pay $290 for a single pastry knife and $4,000 for a meat tenderizing utensil. (Ministry officials are blaming it on Pentagon advisors.)
• The Bank of Scotland has found a new use for old money — it’s turning old bills into compost for garden centers and organic farmers. (My bank already has enough compost — the BS fees they keep charging me!)
• Scientists may have finally discovered why guys grab their crotches in public. Apparently a tiny micro-organism that lives on the surface of the skin and causing discomfort in the area seems to prefer men. (Yeah? I got your tiny micro-organism RIGHT HERE!!!)
THE BULL SHEET 06.29.01
1971 [30] Kaitlyn Ashley, Fort Lauderdale FL, X-rated film actress (“A Rear and Pleasant Danger”, “A Clockwork Orgy”, “Buffy’s New Boobs” and other classics)
SATURDAY’S BIRTHDAYS . . .
1959 [42] Vincent D’Onofrio, Brooklyn NY, TV actor (Detective Robert Goren-“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”)/movie actor (“The Cell”, “Men in Black”)
1966 [35] Mike Tyson, Brooklyn NY, ex-con/ex-world heavyweight boxing champion/ear connoisseur who may or may not be fighting Lennox Lewis in a record-prize-setting double header NEXT YEAR
1975 [26] Ralf Schumacher, Huerth Hermuelheim GER, auto racer (2001 Canadian Grand Prix winner JUNE 10 in Montreal)/brother of Grand Prix racer Michael Schumacher
FAMOUS CANADIANS BORN ON CANADA DAY . . .
1942 [59] Genevieve Bujold, Montréal PQ, movie actress (“Dead Ringers”, “Anne of a Thousand Days”, “Coma”)
BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1937 [64] 1st ‘snowmobile’, built by Armand Bombardier in Québec (originally called ‘Ski-dog’, later ‘Ski-do’)
1964 [37] 1st ‘remote control’ sold with a TV (a hockey stick handle with a stuffed rubber glove on the end)
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1990 [11] Only time in MLB history TWO ‘complete game no-hitters’ are recorded on same day (Oakland’s Dave Stewart vs Toronto, LA Dodger Fernando Valenzuela vs St Louis)
AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] “American Redneck Day” (coinciding with “Independence Day”)
[July 13] Friday the 13th
National Camping Week
Rebuild Your Life Month
BULL’S BITS . . .
BS PHONE STARTER:
“When exactly is ‘Canada Day’ – Sunday or Monday?” (According to the 1982 statute that established the holiday, Canada’s national celebration is always observed on July 1, UNLESS that date falls on a Sunday, in which case it is observed the following day. So when should we light the fireworks? On the other hand – who cares? A long weekend’s a long weekend!)
BS WEST-TO-EAST CANADA DAY QUIZ:
• What is the capital of the Yukon? [Whitehorse]
• What is British Columbia’s official flower? [Pacific dogwood]
• Where can you find Canada’s oldest mosque? [Edmonton]
• How many natural borders does Saskatchewan have? [None]
• How many native languages are spoken in the Northwest Territories? [9]
• Which Royal Ballet is the oldest dance company in Canada? [Royal Winnipeg Ballet]
• In what Ontario city did the Dutch Royal Family live during World War II? [Ottawa]
• What was the former name of Nunavut’s capital Iqaluit? [Frobisher Bay]
• Who discovered Quebec in 1534? [Jacques Cartier]
• What province is the only officially bilingual province? [New Brunswick]
• When did Nova Scotia become a province of the Dominion of Canada? [July 1, 1867]
• What province gave Canada the first premier of non-European heritage? [PEI]
• What was the nationality of John Cabot, credited with ‘discovering’ Newfoundland? [Italian]
BS TAG LINE:
Every successful person has had failure, but failure is no guarantee of success.
