Tuesday, August 15, 2023 – Edition: #7533

Sheeters Always Prosper!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Dwayne Johnson says he is “completely heartbroken” by the devastating wildfires in Hawaii. In an Instagram video, The Rock said: “Everything that I’ve seen transpire over these past couple of days, everything that continues to transpire, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute, it’s all heartbreaking.” He thanked people “around the world” for their love and support, and urged those who wish to donate to Hawaii to do so by clicking a link on his profile. And Oprah has promised to make a “major donation” to the residents and areas affected by the wildfires, where the death toll has risen to 96. Winfrey also urged others to “do whatever you can,” in a video posted to Instagram.
-People, NYPost
★ Elon Musk is now calling Mark Zuckerberg a “chicken” after Zuck said it’s “time to move on” from their supposed cage fight. After The Meta chief questioned Musk’s seriousness about their highly anticipated match, Musk wrote on X: “He can’t eat at Chick-fil-A, because that would be cannibalism,” referencing the fast food chain known for its chicken sandwiches. Besides calling Zuckerberg a coward, Musk has been taunting Zuckerberg over the differences in their physical size. On Sunday, Musk leaked a series of text messages between the 2, where he says “While I think it is very unlikely (Zuckerberg would win a fight), given our size difference, perhaps you are a modern day Bruce Lee and will somehow win.”
-Insider
★ Tim W. Bliefnick, a former “Family Feud” contestant who joked about regretting marriage on the game show, received 3 life sentences in an Illinois courtroom for the murder of his wife, Rebecca. Two of Bliefnick’s life sentences stem from 2 counts of first-degree murder, while the third life sentence is for his conviction of home invasion. There will be no opportunity for parole, credit for time served, or possibility of release. He was found guilty 2 months ago.
-Deadline
★ Austin Butler has shared the key piece of advice he received from Tom Hanks, his co-star in the hit biopic “Elvis”. Butler says he sat down for dinner with Hanks, who told him that he needed to dive deep into another role as soon as possible. Hanks, who played ‘Colonel Tom Parker’ in the movie, told him: ‘You have immersed yourself so deeply in Elvis that, for your mental health, it would be wise to go straight into something else. If you just jump off the train, you might have emotional whiplash.” Hanks followed that up by saying: ‘And, you know, I’ve got this thing I’m producing…’ That conversation led to Butler’s forthcoming role as Major Gale Cleven in “Masters of the Air” – produced by Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
-Deadline
★ Her coat will go on. An overcoat worn by Kate Winslet in “Titanic” is up for auction. New Jersey-based collectibles auctioneer Goldin says the off-pink floor-length coat will definitely go for over $100,000 when all is said and done on Sept. 13. At last check, 5 people had placed bids, the highest for $34,000. Winslett wore the piece of movie memorabilia during the 1997 blockbuster’s sinking scenes — when her character ‘Rose’ rescues’ Jack’, played by Leo DiCaprio, who was handcuffed to a pole on the flooding deck. It still bears water stains from the filming. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3bwks47r
-NYPost
★ The martial arts classic “Enter the Dragon”, which propelled Bruce Lee to stardom, is turning 50 this month, and to mark the milestone, Lee’s daughter, Shannon, is unveiling a new anime series “House of Lee”. The first ever Bruce Lee anime project will premiere in 2024. Also in celebration of Enter the Dragon‘s 50th anniversary, special 4K UHD screenings of the movie are being held this week. Audiences will be treated to the House of Lee trailer. LINK: https://youtu.be/u-4mqqr4psE
-Deadline

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Josh Gad, Anna Chlumsky, The Weather Station (R)
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Maya Rudolph, Emma Chamberlain, Brett Eldredge (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Stephen A. Smith, Dylan McDermott; Davido (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Timothy Olyphant, Rachel Sennott (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Wanda Sykes (R)
• “The Talk” (CBS): Skylar Astin, Camille Vasquez (R)
• “Live with Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Anya Taylor-Joy, Common
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): George Lopez, Mayan Lopez, Alison Sweeney (R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Zach Braff (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings): Chloe Bailey, Kelvin Harrison Jr. (R)
• “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” (ABC): Kate Flannery, Steve Agee and Austin Creed
• “America’s Got Talent” (NBC): As the auditions come to a close, Terry Crews previews some of the most memorable acts of the season.
• “Beat Shazam” (Fox): A mother/daughter team, an aunt/nephew team, and a team of friends battle to take home the $1 million prize.
• “The Love Experiment” (MTV): It’s a dating app brought to life, as 3 friends are given the opportunity to each choose 3 men to date.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Lizzo – After it was reported that she’s no longer in consideration to perform at Super Bowl 58, following accusations of harassment and abuse by some former dancers, her rep claims she was never up for the gig in the first place. Quote: “There has never been a conversation…Totally not true.”
• Cardi B –  The mic she threw at a concertgoer last month, which sold for nearly $100,000 on eBay, has not changed possession because the top bidder never paid up. Seller Scott Fisher planned to split the profit among 2 charities.
• Drake – asked fans at his show in Inglewood CA on Saturday NOT to throw bras, because his son was there. After some hurled undergarments at the stage, he urged the crowd to stop, saying his 5-year-old son Adonis was backstage, “for the first time ever.”
• Abba – “ABBA: The Movie – Fan Event” will be coming to theaters for 2 nights only – Sept. 17 and 19. The film promises to transport audiences to the disco era when the Swedish icons first ruled the charts. Details at www.abbathemovie.com .
• Guns N’ Roses – Their new single ‘Perhaps’ has apparently been leaked via TouchTunes. Some fans reported that the tune, due out Aug. 31, populated on TouchTunes machines at bars and other locations across the US, along with the single’s cover art.
• Ozzy Osbourne – The unreleased Penelope Spheeris’s Ozzfest documentary “We Sold Our Souls For Rock ‘N’ Roll” will be screened in LA on Aug. 18 at the David Geffen Theater. The 90-minute film, shot in 1999, includes interviews and live footage with Slipknot, Static-X and System of a Down, with a special focus on Black Sabbath, as their set was billed as the band’s final-ever performance in the US.
• Mickey Guyton — has teamed up with Maroon 5 on their new song ‘Middle Ground’. She wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “I am so, so grateful to @maroon5 for letting me be a part of this beautiful song. I hope y’all love it as much as I do”. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/bdsttxhc
• Blake Shelton – His wife Gwen Stefani’s oldest son Kingston Rossdale gave a surprise performance at Shelton’s bar and live music venue, Ole Red in Tishomingo OK on Friday. In a TikTok video, the 17-year-old is seen hitting some impressive notes, to the delight of the crowd. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mwbca474
• Kane Brown — treated his 2 young daughters to some fancy footwork in a TikTok Vid, but 3-year-old Kingsley and 1-year-old Kodi seemed a little unsure what to think about it. Brown busts out his best moves, but the kids don’t join in – simply watching him, until he invites them in for a group hug at the end of his dad-worthy performance. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/4mfc7aa6

SHOOTING THE BULL

WALKING DISASTER:
At this point, everyone knows that it’s just not good to text and drive. But what about texting and walking? A group of researchers says perhaps phones should be disabled while we are walking, to prevent accidents and injuries. Why? An experiment by Neuroscience Research Australia at the University of New South Wales found that “On any day…as many as 80% of people, both younger and older, may be head down and texting”, and these people are more likely to have accidents. The researchers observed volunteers walking in a simulated environment, with random slip hazards, while texting, or not texting. These people wore a safety harness to prevent injury, and sensors to collect their motion data. The scientists warned the volunteers about the hazard, but found that each person reacted differently. Some slowed down, some sped up in anticipation of slipping. Some slipped, and some managed to avoid the hazard altogether. This led the researchers to conclude that to better prevent accidents from texting while walking, multiple strategies may be needed. They suggest that technology could be used to detect walking — and activate a phone screen lock to prevent people texting while they’re on the move…similar to software that kicks in on some devices when you’re driving a vehicle.
(Because THAT software works so well…right, UPS guy?)
(And who’ll be the first idiot to stop in the middle of a busy intersection in order to reply to a text?)
-LADBible

CASINO INSECURITY:
Who would have thought? It turns out that some of your fav casino card games…could be rigged. Researchers and hackers showcased their latest findings at the annual Black Hat and Defcon security conferences in Las Vegas. And one group of researchers says they found that “Deckmate 2”, the most widely used automated shuffling machine in casinos, can be fully hijacked by plugging a small device into its USB port. Once compromised, the machine’s code can be tampered with and the order of the deck manipulated. The Deckmate 2 also has an internal camera that can be accessed, allowing the cheater to know the entire order of the deck in real time, and therefore the hand of every player at the poker table. This information can be sent to a partner via Bluetooth, who could then signal to the cheating player.
(I don’t suppose they’re bluffing?)
(A security conference in Vegas? What do you suppose these guys do after their meetings are done? Hit the strip and NOT gamble?)
-Wired

PLEASE PASTA ICE CREAM:
Maybe it’s not the first flavor you think of when ordering an ice cream treat, but apparently, something called the “Spaghetti Sundae” is making a comeback in Germany. But don’t worry. There’s no real spaghetti, or any other kinds of pasta involved. Known as  “Spaghettieis” — “eis” is the German word for ice cream — the dessert consists of vanilla ice cream that is passed through a device for cutting dough, to give it the appearance of noodles…spaghetti. The ice cream “noodles” are then topped with strawberry sauce, to resemble tomato sauce, and grated white chocolate that looks like sprinkled Parmigiano cheese. While the fun confection dates back to 1969, the Spag Sundae has re-emerged over the last 5 years, and now, about 40 million servings of Spaghettieis are sold annually in Germany. And the stuff looks…well, just like spaghetti! LINK: https://tinyurl.com/5e92v98t
(And it’s served cold, just like my Mama used to serve spaghetti, unfortunately!)
(But for some reason, it hasn’t gone over well anywhere that uses a picture menu-board!)
-NYPost

HOW TO BEAT THE POST-HOLIDAY BLUES:
(According to a psychologist…)
☞ Keep track of your memories: Yes, you needed to “unplug”, but you should also have a record of all the fun and experiences you enjoyed. You could post pics to social media, like everyone does, or try scrapbooking or journaling, to help you foster gratitude for your experiences.
☞ Learn a new skill and bring it home with you: Lifelong learners with a sense of curiosity are more confident, resilient, and able to cope with stress. Try something new, like cooking a favorite dish you ate in Europe, or sneak in phrases of a language you picked up. It helps keep your sense of adventure alive.
☞ Spend time with friends and family: Human interaction, such as that experienced while on vacation, releases feel-good hormones. But when we get home, we can feel lonely. To avoid that, catch up with friends and family when you return. (They’ll LOOOVE to see your vacation photos!)
☞ Follow healthy habits: Yes, while away, you might eat and drink way too much. But when you return, start following a good sleep routine, and make sure you’re getting plenty of exercise. Spending time in nature can help boost your mood too. (Well, at least he didn’t tell me to follow healthy habits while I was on vacation…!)
☞ Know if you need to make bigger changes: If your symptoms start interfering with your day-to-day schedule, or you really dread returning to your “Normal” life, a qualified therapist can help. This can be a sign that some things in your life need to change. (This therapist is starting to sound just like my wife…!)
-Insider

DID YOU KNOW?
Forget about trying to reach that magical number of 10,000 steps per day. It turns out that after all this time, we might have been overestimating the number of steps needed to stay healthy. A new study by Johns Hopkins University and researchers in Poland found the bare minimum number of steps you should be doing to reduce the risk of premature death — is around 4,000 per day. And they also found that just over 2,300 daily steps is enough to benefit the heart and blood vessels. But on the other hand, they determined that each additional 1,000 daily steps decreases a person’s death risk by 15%, right up to 20,000 steps. (I did the math. Considering the ground I have to cover with 2 toddlers and a dog, I currently have a negative 145% chance of dying!)
-HuffPost

BS CHRONOMETER 08.15.23

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Acadian Day” (In Canada), celebrating the French who settled areas of Canada now called Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island in the early 17th century. Many Acadians were later banished by the British to Louisiana, where the name was contracted to ‘Cajun’.
• “Lemon Meringue Pie Day”, Traditionally, it has 3 components: shortcrust pastry, lemon custard filling, and a meringue topping, and there is no top crust. (OK, I’m in! Two, please.) LINK:  http://tinyurl.com/3osh9j9
• “Relaxation Day”, a day to think about, and encourage new forms of relaxation. Meditation? Yoga? Beer?
• “I Love Cowboys and Cowgirls Day”, saluting all cowpokes everywhere, whether they roam the range or ride the rodeo, pardner.
• “Failures Day”, to encourage the celebration of mistakes. But if you fail on purpose, it is a failure or a success? (***A great phone topic: “What was your funniest failure?”***)
• “Check the Chip Day”, a reminder to pet owners to check and update their pets’ microchip registration information.
• “Best Friends Day”, a day for doing something fun with your best friend, such as going to the movies, going shopping, going to a park or restaurant, playing a game, or just hanging out. (A friend will buy you lunch. A best friend will eat your lunch!)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Wed] Tell A Joke Day
[Wed] Roller Coaster Day
[Thurs] I Love My Feet Day
[Fri] Fajita Day
This Week Is…Balayage Week (a freehand hair-coloring technique)
This Month Is…Home Business Month

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1948 [75] Tom Johnston, Visalia CA, rock singer-guitarist, (The Doobie Brothers-‘Listen to the Music’, ‘China Grove’)

1964 [59] Melinda French Gates, Dallas TX, philanthropist (co-founder & co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)/computer scientist (former Microsoft general manager)/married to Bill Gates 1994-2021/net worth 2023: $10.4 billion

1968 [55] Debra Messing, Brooklyn NY, TV actress (“The Mysteries of Laura” 2014-2016, “Will & Grace” 1998-2006, 2017-20)/movie actress (“Lucky You”, “The Wedding Date”)

1970 [53] Anthony Anderson, Compton CA, TV actor (“Law & Order” 2008-2022, “Black-ish” 2014-2022)

1972 [51] Ben Affleck, Berkeley CA, movie actor (“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice”, “Gone Girl”)/ movie director (“Argo”, “The Town”)/screenwriter (Oscar-“Good Will Hunting”)/married to Jennifer Lopez since 2022. COMING UP… “The Instigators”

1989 [34] Joe Jonas, Casa Grande AZ, pop singer (w/Demi Lovato-‘This Is Me’, Jonas Brothers-Sucker’, ‘Burnin’ Up’, DNCE-‘Cake By the Ocean’)/movie actor (“Devotion”)

1990 [33] Jennifer Lawrence, Louisville KY, movie actress (Oscar-“Silver Linings Playbook”, “The Hunger Games” movies)/TV actress (“The Bill Engvall Show” 2007-09) COMING UP…”East of Eden”

2000 [23] Tones and I (Toni Watson), Mount Martha Australia, pop singer (‘Dance Monkey’, ‘Fly Away’)

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1983 [40] Musician Paul Simon marries Carrie Fisher (‘Princess Leia” in “Star Wars” movies). “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels is best man, Penny Marshall is maid of honor. The couple split a year later, but resume their relationship in less formal terms throughout much of the ’80s.

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1969 [54] Woodstock Music & Art Fair opens in New York State on Max Yasgur’s dairy farm
(Performers include The Who, Santana, Grateful Dead, CCR, CSNY, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Jimi Hendrix and …Sha Na Na?)

2009 [14] The UK gig of the “U2 360° Tour” breaks the record for a concert at London’s Wembley Stadium, with over 88,000 attending (broken in 2017 by Adele, 98,000, Ed Sheeran in 2022, 100,000)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2013 [10] The olinguito, native to Andes forests in South America, is the first new mammal to be discovered in 35 years (described as a mini-raccoon with a teddy bear face)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2002 [21] ‘Slowest Police Chase on Record’ as cops in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania charge a 30-year-old man for public drunkenness after he’s spotted cruising down a street on a child’s Fisher Price Power Wheels car … at 3 mph

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Official temperatures used in weather apps are taken in shade, not under sunlight.
✓ Likely due to climate change, allergy season is getting longer and more intense each year.
✓ Ferrets can sleep so soundly that they cannot be awakened, even when picked up and jostled.
✓ A typical bird’s feathers weigh more than twice as much as its bones.
✓ Under extreme high pressure, diamonds can be made from peanut butter.
✓ The term ‘bug’ for a software malfunction dates back to 1947, when a fault was traced to a moth stuck in the system.
-WTFFacts

Best of BS . . .
WORST BS PICK-UP LINES:
• “Hey, you’re really cute. You look just like my little sister.”
• “Can I buy you a drink, or do you just want the money?”
• “I may not be Fred Flintstone, but I bet I can make your bed rock.”
• “If you think you’re going to regret this in the morning, we can sleep until afternoon.”
• “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought that was a Braille name tag.”
• “Hi, I’m (***co-host***]. Remember it, cause you’ll be screaming it all night long.”
• “The fact that I’m missing my teeth just means that there’s more room for your tongue.”
• “I must be huntin’ treasure, ’cause I’m diggin’ yer chest.”
• “Hello there. I’m extremely wealthy.”
(The best pick-up line to use on a guy is … “Hi.”)
-First published in BS in 2011

TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ A woman in Southern California found a dead frog in a bag of spinach she bought at a grocery store. (Actually, it could have been worse . . . she could have found Kale in there!)
➠ Researchers say guppies are able to reproduce after they die. (Big deal. Tupac has released 17 albums since HE died!)
➠ A report claims that people who eat fried foods have a 60% higher chance of getting heart disease. (The research was conducted at the University of Unnecessary Studies…)
➠ A study found that 6 in 10 women over 60 have active sex lives. (In other words, if the Craftmatic Adjustable is-a-rockin’, don’t come a knockin’…)
➠ A study found that bacon sizzling is one of the most relaxing sounds to humans. (So, by that logic, Chris Christie is the most easy-going man on earth…)

BS WEB GOODIE:
Caption says it all (sound up):  https://tinyurl.com/mr2u3wnv

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I truly believe there is someone out there watching over us – unfortunately it’s the government.

BS PHONE STARTER:
What famous person is actually making the world a better place?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  Almost 80% of women agree: Men over 30 should not do THIS. What is it?
Answer:  Wear an earring

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Integrity is choosing courage over comfort. It’s choosing what is right over what is fast, fun, or easy.