BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
Warner Bros has reportedly filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against a Swiss company for using the brand name ‘Harry Popper’ on a new condom, which features an illustration of a condom wearing round glasses and waving a magic wand on the packaging (at least they aren’t endorsed by ‘Nymphadora Tonks’!) . . . “Jersey Shore” star Snooki Polizzi & new boyfriend Jeff Miranda are taking their relationship to the next level, setting up plans for him to meet her parents (likely just in time for the season finalé) . . . Action movie star Jackie Chan (“The Karate Kid”) wants kung fu (aka ‘wushu’) recognized as an official event at the Olympic Games, but admits the many different styles of kung fu fighting make it difficult for it be accepted as a unified sport (and how about bocce?) . . . Ryan Murphy, creator-producer of “Glee” (FOX), says he’s so pleased with Britney Spears’ recently-shot guest appearance for the upcoming season, he’d like her to do an encore (the episode is scheduled to air September 28th) . . . And 25-year-old movie actor Kellan Lutz (‘Emmett Cullen’ in the “Twilight Saga”) has reportedly received a package of nicotine patches, nicotine gum, and a note of advice from his mother while on the movie set of “Immortals”, now shooting in Montréal (Quote: “You’re a role model for young people. You can’t be smoking those filthy things!”).

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Buckcherry (“All Night Long”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – David Gray (“Foundling”).
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – Wilco (“Wilco”).
• “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/A Channel) – Halestorm (“Halestorm”).
• “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS) – Katy Perry (“Teenage Dream”, released today).
• “Live With Regis & Kelly” (syndicated/CTV) – The Script (“Science & Faith”).
• “Lopez Tonight” (TBS) – Korn (“Remember Who You Are”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/A Channel) – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (“I Learned the Hard Way”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Faith Hill – Tonight she performs a free concert at the rebuilt Mahalia Jackson Theater in New Orleans, to mark the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the catastrophic 2005 hurricane that devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
• Lady Gaga– She’s become the ‘Queen of Twitter’ with nearly 6 million followers, 34,000 more than anyone else.
• Lil Wayne – He may be serving time at NYC’s Rikers Island prison, but that hasn’t stopped him from suing his former booking agent, Ujaama Talent Agency, alleging it still owes him $375,000 from his 2009 “America’s Most Wanted Tour”.
• Madonna – LA Triumph Inc has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles claiming she’s stolen their ‘Material Girl’ trademark, which they’ve been using to sell clothing since 1997. It’s claimed her new apparel company does not have the rights to trade under that brand name.
• Michael Jackson – A new videogame coming out called “Michael Jackson: The Experience!” will use a camera & microphone to record players’ movements and attempts to sing along.
• TI – Today he releases his post-jail comeback album, “King Uncaged”.
• U2 – They’ve announced plans to extend their “360” world tour Down Under, scheduling gigs in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, Australia in December, as well as Auckland NZ.
• Usher – Today he releases the 8-song album “Versus”, billed as the sequel and final chapter to his “Raymond v Raymond” album. Also out today: “Raymond v Raymond Deluxe Edition”, which combines all the material on both releases.

TODAY’S VIDEO RELEASES:
• “The Back-Up Plan” ( PG-13 Romantic Comedy ): Jennifer Lopez stars as a wannabe mom who decides waiting for ‘Mr Right’ is taking too long, so she decides to go it alone. But on the day of her artificial insemination, she finally meets a guy with real possibilities (Alex O’Loughlin).
• “City Island” ( PG-13 Dramedy ): Andy Garcia & Julianna Margulies star in this tale about a family whose comfortable existence in a quaint fishing community on the outskirts of NYC is upended by surprising revelations about past secrets and present day lies.
• “Lost: The Complete Collection” ( TV Compilation ): ‘Losties’ will be excited about the Blu-Ray box set release of their favorite show, which includes all episodes from Seasons 1-through-6, a “Lost” island replica, a full disc of never-before-seen content, plus other accouterments.
• “Survival Of the Dead” ( R-Rated Horror Thriller ): Director George A Romero’s long-running “Night Of the Living Dead” (1968) series continues on an island off the coast of Delaware, where the National Guard and local residents fight a zombie epidemic. No-name cast.
• Also released today: “Ben 10 Alien Force: Volume 8” (Animation); “Beverly Hills 90210: The 2nd Season” (TV); “Flight Of the Conchords: The Complete Collection” (TV); “Ghost Hunters International: Season 1, Part 2” (TV Documentary); “Gossip Girl: The Complete 3rd Season” (TV); “The Great Rift: Africa’s Greatest Story” (Documentary); “NCIS: The 7th Season” (TV); and “The Simpsons: The Complete 13th Season” (TV).

1950S ALL OVER AGAIN:
The emblematic mental health problem of the ’50s, anxiety, has re-emerged as a top symptom in the 21st century. Observers say there are certainly obvious reasons for anxiety today, foremost among them the precariousness of employment and how that affects our status, security, comfort, and health. At the root of our anxiety may be something we share with the ’50s … loneliness. Ronald Dworkin of Washington DC’s Hudson Institute calls it ‘interior loneliness’, described as the result of a paradox of friendship without any real connection between people. (Your Facebook ‘friend’ list, for instance.)
– “New York Times”

SLEEPING IN THE BACK SEAT:
If you’re the sort of guy who slept on a car-shaped bed when you were a little kid and loved it, this is the hotel for you … the V8 Hotel, a car-themed inn in Stuttgart, Germany. Its rooms are guaranteed to rev the engine of any car lover because they’re all geared out in auto memorabilia. Guests can sleep in everything from a Morris Minor to a Cadillac or a Mercedes, and in theme rooms that mimic a drive-in theater, a service station, and even a car wash. (If your credit card is declined, they repossess your bed.)
NET: http://www.v8hotel.de
– “Daily Mail”

THINGS AN IDENTITY THIEF WON’T TELL YOU:
• In line at the grocery store, I’ll hold my phone like I’m looking at the screen and snap your card as you’re using it. Next thing you know, I’m ordering things online … on your dime.
• Check your bank and credit card balances at least once a week. I can do a lot of damage in the 30 days between statements.
• I can duplicate the magnetic stripe technology on credit cards and debit cards using a $50-machine. Cards with an embedded chip that require a PIN are a lot harder to hack.
• If a bill doesn’t show up when it’s supposed to, don’t breathe a sigh of relief. Start to wonder if your mail has been stolen.
• That’s me driving through your neighborhood at 3 am on trash day. I fill my trunk with bags of garbage from different houses, then sort it out later looking for ID info.
• You throw away such useful things: Pre-approved credit card applications, old bills, expired credit cards, bank account deposit slips, and crumpled-up job apps with all your personal info.
• If you see something that looks like it doesn’t belong on the ATM or sticks out from the card slot, walk away. It’s the ‘skimmer’ I attach to capture your card information and PIN.
• Hackers are constantly breaking into retail databases because getting access to debit card numbers gives me direct access to your banking account.
– Condensed from “Reader’s Digest”

WATERED-DOWN TRUTH:
Sharing memories with someone else can distort the truth of what actually happened and in some cases create false memories. A psychology study at Australia’s University of Sydney has found that witnesses who discuss an event with a co-witness are very likely to incorporate misinformation presented by the co-witness into their own memory of the event. Once a memory has been contaminated in this way, the witness is often unable to distinguish between what’s accurate and what’s inaccurate. (This is why your spouse has to constantly correct you and remind you why everything was your fault.)
– “Science Alert”

THE HISTORY OF DUDITY:
Originally, back in the 1800s, the term ‘dude’ referred to a dandy-ish sort of doofus. Later, in the American West, the term came to refer to a non-Westerner or city-dweller who tours or stays on a ranch. In the 1960s the term attracted more coolness as it was embraced by surf culture and by the ‘70s a ‘dude’ was just an average guy. The term gained momentum through the ‘80s and ‘90s as the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” and dude-heavy movies such as “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Wayne’s World” became popular. Nowadays the word can be used in numerous ways: As an indication of cool solidarity (“Me and the dudes …”), as an exclamation (“Dude!”), an interrogative (“Dude?), and as a deflated term (“Oh, dude …”).
– “Wordtastic”

DID YOU KNOW?
• Since 2000 an employee in Britain has been entitled to at least 28 days annual vacation, including national holidays.
– PopBitch.com
• If you take all of the core beverages and multiply them by the modifiers and the customization options, Starbucks has 87,000 possible drink combinations.
– “Wall Street Journal”

BS CHRONOMETER 08.24.10

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TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [65] Vince McMahon, Pinehurst NC, chairman of World Wrestling Entertainment since 1980 (originally World Wrestling Federation)

1962 [48] Craig Kilborn, Kansas City MO, TV personality (“The Kilborn File” 2010, “Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn” 1999-2005, “The Daily Show” 1996-98)

1970 [40] Kristyn Osborn, Magna UT, country singer (SHeDAISY-“Don’t Worry ‘Bout a Thing”, “I Will … But”)

1973 [37] Dave Chappelle, Washington DC, TV comedian (“Chappelle’s Show” 2003-05)/movie actor (“Block Party”, “Blue Streak”)

1973 [37] Carmine Giovinazzo, Staten Island NY, TV actor (‘Detective Danny Messer’ on “CSI: NY” since 2004)

1981 [29] Chad Michael Murray, Buffalo NY, TV actor (‘Lucas Scott’ on “One Tree Hill” 2003-09)/movie actor (“House of Wax”)

1988 [22] Rupert Grint, Watton-at-Stone UK, movie actor (‘Ron Weasley’ in the “Harry Potter” films)  BS FACTOID: He says he doesn’t know what to do with his free time now that the franchise has wrapped filming and he has no idea what his next career move will be.

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Flitting Appreciation Day”, a day to recognize those who have perfected the art of flitting around here and there.

• “Peach Pie Day”, honoring the seasonal dessert made from flour, sugar, butter, and freshly-picked juicy peaches. Yummers!

• “Sturgeon Moon”, the Full Moon of August variously known as ‘Full Red Moon’, ‘Green Corn Moon’ or ‘Grain Moon’.

• “Waffle Day”, celebrating the anniversary of the invention of the ‘Waffle Iron’ by Cornelius Swartwout of Troy NY on this day in 1869. Other inventions attributed to today’s date include ‘Potato Chips’ (Chef George Crum, Saratoga Springs NY in 1853) and the ‘Motion Picture Camera’ (Thomas Edison in Menlo Park NJ, 1891). It’s no wonder August is tagged “National Inventors’ Month”.
WORST-EVER BS INVENTIONS:
• Non-Stick Scotch Tape
• Black Highlighter Pen
• Inflatable Anchor
• Inflatable Dartboard
• Extra-Smooth Sandpaper
• Battery-Bowered Battery Charger
• Motorcycle Seatbelts
• Double-Sided Playing Cards
• Powdered Water
• Heat n’ Eat Popsicles

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1987 [23] PBS is threatened with a lawsuit if it uses a banana to demonstrate how to use a condom during an AIDS special … by the International Banana Association

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1981 [29] Mark David Chapman is sentenced in NYC to serve 20 years-to-life in prison for the assassination of music icon John Lennon

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2006 [04] A meeting of 424 astronomers demotes the former planet Pluto to ‘dwarf planet status’ (it had been designated a planet since its discovery in 1930)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2002 [08] Petri Valta of Finland outdistances 90 other contestants from 7 countries by hurling a Nokia 5510 cellphone 219 feet to set a new world record at the “Mobile Phone Throwing World Championships” in Savonlinna, Finland (there are times we’d like to try this … with other people’s phones)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Kiss & Make Up Day
[Wed] Second-Hand Wardrobe Day
[Wed] Edinburgh International Film Festival begins (Scotland)
[Wed] Air Guitar World Championships begin (Oulu, Finland)
[Thurs] National Dog Day
[Thurs] Women’s Equality Day
This Week Is … Be Kind to Humankind Week
This Month Is … Get Ready for Kindergarten Month

BULL’S BITS

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WHERE DID ARNOLD SAY IT?
Do the following quotes come from Arnold Schwarzenegger while governor of California or onscreen in his movies?
• “If they don’t have the guts, I call them girlie men.” [In office, referring to legislators.]
• “If it bleeds, we can kill it.” [Onscreen, in “Predator”.]
• “I have been adopted by America.” [In office.]
• “I don’t need to take any money from anybody. I have plenty of money myself.” [In office.]
• “I’m not into politics, I’m into survival.” [Onscreen, in “The Running Man”.]
• “For us, there is no Spring. Just the wind that smells fresh before the storm.” [Onscreen, in “Conan the Barbarian”.]
• “I think it is the most important job I’ve ever done … that doesn’t mean you can’t wave a knife around or a sword around to get the message across.” [In office.]
• “My men are not expendable. And I don’t do this kind of work.” [Onscreen, in “Predator”.]
• “You make too much noise! It has to be very quiet in here, like in a church!” [Onscreen, in Pumping Iron”.]
• “For me life is continuously being hungry.” [In office.]
– Adapted from Mentalfloss.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
What one thing do you wish your partner would stop doing?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I think ‘love’ is whatever’s left over come morning.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: Women are more likely to do THIS while on vacation than men are.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Cheat on their significant other. Beware the all-girl-cation! (LemonDrop.com)

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Knowledge is knowing that you don’t know.