Wednesday, December 1, 2021 – Edition: #7119

Bully For You!

 

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
(***UPDATE***) ★ Dr. Oz is running for the US Senate in Pennsylvania. According to an op-ed published Tuesday in the conservative Washington Examiner, Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and television personality, will throw his hat into the ring as a Republican. In the op-ed, Oz wrote: “During the pandemic, I learned that when you mix politics and medicine, you get politics instead of solutions. That’s why I am running for the U.S. Senate: to help fix the problems and to help us heal.”
-CNN
★ Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson will be ringing in 2022 together. They are inviting you to watch “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party Hosted by Miley Cyrus and Pete Davidson” on NBC. The special will air live from Miami on Dec. 31 from 10:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. ET and will be live-streamed on Peacock. “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels will serve as executive producer for the broadcast, which will feature “a star-studded lineup of special guests and musical performances,” according to the press release. No word yet if recent SNL host Kim Kardashian West, who is currently dating Davidson, will be among those “special guests. (Could they have THOUGHT of a more awkward title?)
-Yahoo
★ Matthew McConaughey is finally speaking clearly about his intentions on Texas politics — saying he WON’T be running for Governor after all, despite the fact that he would be a favorite to win. He made the announcement with a video he posted to his social media, starting out by pointing out all the problems he sees with the modern-day political landscape, and after some philosophizing on his ultimate purpose, he finally says flat out: “It’s a humbling and inspiring path to ponder. It is also a path that I am choosing not to take at this moment.” LINK: https://tinyurl.com/mprhpjkp
-TMZ
★ Disney+ users in the U.S. may be able to stream every episode of “The Simpsons”, but apparently, that’s not the case in China. With the platform’s launch in Hong Kong, users have discovered that one episode in particular has been scrubbed — the one that mocks Tiananmen Square. Season 6’s episode 12, first broadcast in 2005, follows the Simpsons on a trip to China, where they visit Tiananmen Square. They spot a placard that reads: “On this site, in 1989, nothing happened.” For those unfamiliar, in 1989, several pro-democracy student protestors were brutally killed by Chinese police. Mention of the incident has been scrubbed from just about all media in the country since then — hence the joke that “nothing happened.”
-TheWrap
★ “Magic Mike’s Last Dance,” the third installment in the film franchise starring Channing Tatum, is set to be directed by Steven Soderbergh and will debut on HBO Max. Tatum will reprise his role as ‘Mike Lane’. The first two “Magic Mike” films grossed nearly $300 million and, in 2017, the franchise spawned the stage experience “Magic Mike Live.” The show launched in Las Vegas and quickly expanded internationally, with sold out shows in London, Berlin and Australia.
-TheWrap

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/Global): Ken Jeong, Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Seth Rogen, Macklemore featuring Windsor
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Cate Blanchett, Gangs of Youth
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Taylor Swift, Aisling Bea, Elmo Lovano (R)
• “The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Octavia Spencer, Max Greenfield, Travis
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Heather Dubrow, Annaleigh Ashford
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Rita Moreno
• “The Talk” (CBS): Bradley Whitford
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Rita Moreno, Nicholas Braun, Jake Cohen
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Wanda Sykes
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Diego Boneta, Benny Blanco, Matty Matheson, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman, Kristin Chenoweth, guest host Jay Leno
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Dionne Warwick, Sutton Foster, Vanessa Lachey
• “89th Annual Christmas in Rockefeller Center” (NBC): The lighting of the iconic Christmas Tree. Performances by Carrie Underwood, Mickey Guyton, Brad Paisley and more.
• “Kelly Clarkson Presents: When Christmas Comes Around” (NBC): Musical performances and special guests, including Brett Eldredge, Ariana Grande, Jay Leno, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Odom Jr., Amy Poehler and Santa Claus.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Drake and Kanye West — Fans attending their “Free Larry Hoover Benefit Concert” Dec. 9-10 will have to fork out – bigtime. Seats in the lower bowl section of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum are going for just under $7,500 plus taxes and fees. Nosebleed seats start at $200.
• Taylor Swift – says she doesn’t know how to process Billy Joel calling her “this generation’s answer to the Beatles”. In an interview last month, Joel offered up praise about Adele and Swift. Swift says receiving such a compliment from “an icon” blew her mind.
• The Beatles — John Lennon and George Harrison attempted to cover up their private conversations by strumming their guitars loudly while being filmed for film “Let It Be”. Filmmaker Peter Jackson says he was able to use technology to turn down the volume on the guitarists’ instruments to make their chatter audible for the new doc “Get Back”.
• ABBA — A number of major Vegas venues are locked in a battle to host their digital avatar show in 2024. Reportedly, the group could rake in $13 million if they agree to a deal.
• Tony Iommi — has teased his “really good” upcoming collaboration with Ozzy Osbourne. Iommi wrote a song for his former Black Sabbath bandmate’s upcoming solo album, on which he also plays guitar. The song also features Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith on drums.
• Jimmie Allen – His 6-week-old daughter, Zara James, is on the mend after a scary week for the family that included a lapse in breathing, hospitalization and an RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) diagnosis. On Sunday, Allen’s wife, Alexis, documented Zara’s 5-day hospital and thanked the EMTs, nurses, respiratory therapists and doctors for providing “amazing care for my baby”.
• Kacey Musgraves — appears on the cover of V Magazine’s Winter 2021 issue, and she opted for a dramatic new look for the occasion, donning faux fur and floral pink hair. Musgraves shared a pic of her new ‘do on Instagram, with the caption: “Don’t let me blow away,” a nod to the lyrics of her song, ‘Cherry Blossom’. LINK: https://tinyurl.com/3puvvsdk
• Reba McEntire – announced during her show in Durant OK that she plans to open an entertainment venue in the Sooner State. Reba’s Place will include a restaurant, bar and more, and is set to open in late 2022. The venue will be built in partnership with the Choctaw Nation and the city of Akota, Oklahoma.

SHOOTING THE BULL

SUGGESTION BOX:
For you, what would be the ideal working conditions, and the ideal salary? A group of 2,000 Brits were asked that question, and here is what they came up with:  They said they’d like to work for a boss who enjoys a pint, while the workplace should offer free hot drinks, a day off on your birthday and regular reviews and pay raises. The workers also want a 17-minute commute, a decent view from the office, a 26-hour week and 29 holidays per year. 33% said they like a gig that gets them away from their desk more often. Friendly colleagues and a good location were important, and additional benefits such as ‘duvet days’ and gym discounts were also on the “want” list. And how much pay is enough? The survey said that most would be happy earning £44,000 (US $58,500) per year.
(I’ve got news for them: If you’re working 5 hours a day with 29 holidays per year, you’re not “earning” that kind of money at all!)
(Sure I’d like to work for a boss who I could enjoy a beer with too, but it’s definitely not FIRST on my list!)
-TheSun

WORD UP:
Merriam-Webster has announced its 2021 Word of the Year: “vaccine.” The dictionary publisher proclaims its annual word of the year based on how often the word was searched online. And in the case of vaccine, the word also looms large because for some, it represents a symbol of hope, while for others it is primarily a political issue. In a press release, Merriam-Webster said that “Vaccine lookups increased 600 percent, and the story is about much more than medicine. It was at the center of debates about personal choice, political affiliation, professional regulations, school safety, healthcare inequality, and so much more.” The word “pandemic” was chosen word of the year in 2020, and The Oxford English Dictionary selected “vax” as their word of the year for 2021. Merriam-Webster’s runners-up for 2021 Word of the Year include: “insurrection”, “perseverance” (NASA’s range rover), “infrastructure”, “cicada”, “meta”, “nomad”, and “cisgender”.
(As long as the word of the year isn’t “Squid-Game”, I’m good!)
(I’d have a joke here, but some people still wouldn’t get it…)
(What, for you, was the word of the year?)
-PopCulture, CNN

TREACHEROUS TOYS:
Advocacy group ‘World Against Toys Causing Harm’ (WATCH) has published its 48th annual list of toys that could be dangerous to kids. Here is this year’s Top-10:
1. “Squeaky Mini” bunny:  These cute critters invite 5-year-olds to “blow” on the toy’s hole for a “pop” sound, and it will also “chat back” in a “helium voice.” But a compartment contains 3 button cell batteries, which potentially cause severe injuries or death when ingested.
2. Radio Flyer Spin ‘N Saucer:  Children as young as 1½ are encouraged to “spin” on its 5-inch high seat. The manufacturer does not include warnings regarding the use of helmets or other safety gear.
3. Tummy Time Prop and Play:  This plush, soft “prop mat” is sold for newborns. A “caution” states: “Do NOT allow babies to sleep on this product…. Do NOT use in crib, play yard, or other contained area.”
4. Perfectly Cute My Lil’ Baby Feed & Go Set:  This doll is sold for use by 2-year-olds. The head is adorned with a ribbon that can be removed, and the small, soft, rubber-like baby bottle could be ingested.
5. Nerf Hyper Rush-40 Blaster:  It is capable of shooting the supplied ammunition at an “extreme speed.” A warning says that, to avoid eye injury, children must not “aim at eyes or face.” But plastic eyeglasses are included, and the full face masks depicted on the box are sold separately.
6. Learn to Play Drum:  For babies as young as 12-months. The manufacturer doesn’t provide warnings regarding the rigid, drumsticks, which have the potential to block a child’s airway.
7. Rollers Light-Up Heel Skates:  They are strapped to the heels of children’s shoes, transforming footwear into a rear-wheel roller skate. Despite a warning to wear “protective equipment”, the child depicted on the box is not wearing a helmet or other protective gear.
8. Snake Eyes G.I. Joe Origins Ninja Strike Sickles:  Children are encouraged to “GEAR UP!” for a “SNAPATTACK!” using “ninja sickle” plastic blades, with the potential to cause facial and other impact injuries.
9. My First Hoverboard:  5-year-olds are cautioned to “comply with local laws” and to ride only with “proper training.” In addition to numerous warnings and a 21-page Operation Manual, the label states that failure to follow instructions “can result in death or serious injury….”
10. Walmart “My Life As” Shopping Basket:  It contains 16 mini food items. Despite the significant potential risks posed by the small parts, the only small-parts warning appears on the throw-away packaging.
OTHER BS UNSAFE TOYS:
• “Little Mountie Taser Kit”
• “Ronco’s Pocket Hive”
• “The Used Band-Aid Ball”
• “Roof Ranger Paratrooper Kit”
• “Little Mr. Trenchcoat”
• “Mattel’s Cement Floaties”
• “My First Nipple Ring”
-ToySafety

DID YOU KNOW?
The world’s first floating city could be completed as early as 2025. The South Korean city of Busan has given the go-ahead, in collaboration with the project’s designer, OCEANIX. The floating city will cover 75 hectares and will accommodate 10,000 residents. It will be comprised of many hexagonal islands, with each 2-hectare neighbourhood home to communities of 300. The $200 million city is designed to grow, transform and adapt organically over time, and to withstand natural disasters and circumnavigate the threat posed by rising sea levels.
-LADBible

BS CHRONOMETER 12.01.21

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1935 [86] Woody Allen [Allen Konigsberg], Brooklyn NY, film director/writer/actor (“Blue Jasmine”, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”)/3 Oscars (“Annie Hall [2]” “Hannah & Her Sisters”, “Midnight in Paris”)

1945 [76] Bette Midler, Honolulu HI, pop singer (‘The Rose’)/movie actress (“The First Wives Club”)

1957 [64] Deep Roy, Nairobi Kenya, movie actor (“Big Fish”, and his body was digitally duplicated to play all the ‘Oompa Loompas’ in 2005’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”)

1970 [51] Sarah Silverman, Bedford NH, comedian/TV personality (“Sarah Silverman Program” 2007-10, movies/“Wreck-It Ralph”) COMING UP…“Marry Me”, 2022

1977 [44] Brad Delson, Agoura CA, rock guitarist (Linkin Park-‘Numb’, ‘In The End’)

1982 [39] Riz Ahmed, London England, movie actor (“Rogue One”, “Nightcrawler”)

1985 [36] Janelle Monáe, Kansas City KS, pop/soul singer/songwriter (‘Cold War’, fun. f/Janelle Monáe-‘We Are Young’)

1988 [33] Tyler Joseph, Columbus OH, rapper/singer (Twenty One Pilots-‘Heathens’, ‘Stressed Out’)

1988 [33] Zoe Kravitz, Venice CA, movie actress (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, “Divergent” series)/daughter of Lisa Bonet & Lenny Kravitz. COMING UP…“The Batman”, 2022

2003 [18] Robert Irwin, Melbourne Australia, reality TV star (son of the late Steve Irwin and younger brother to Bindi Irwin/earned a Logie Award in 2013 for his role in “Steve Irwin’s Wildlife Warriors”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Advent Calendar Day”, the day many kids begin opening one compartment on their seasonal calendar each day through December 24th. (Who are we kidding? Through about Dec 10, when the rest mysteriously disappear.) [***See “BS Random Joke”, below***]
• “Antarctica Day”, begun in 2010 to celebrate the December 1, 1959 signature of the Antarctic Treaty, signed by 12 nations to set aside the entire continent (nearly 10% of the planet) to be forever used exclusively for peaceful purposes in the interests of all mankind.
• “World AIDS Day”, the annual day of AIDS awareness and education, first declared by the UN’s World Health Organization in 1988. The official symbol of “World AIDS Day” is the red ribbon. In some communities, the occasion is observed as “Day Without Art”. LINK: http://www.worldaidsday.org
• “Bifocals at the Monitor Liberation Day”, a day of lamentation for all those forced to tip their heads back open-mouthed in order to use a computer, thanks to their need for bifocal lenses. You’re encouraged to free yourself from blurry images today by getting an eye exam, whether you suffer from ‘presbyopia’ (the Greek word for ‘aging eye’) or not.
• “National Pie Day”, a special day set aside to bake your favorite pies. On this day, you are also encouraged to try a new pie recipe. (And most importantly, it’s a day to eat pies!)
• “Rosa Parks Day”, celebrated on either Feb. 4 (CA and MO), her birthday, and on Dec. 1 (OH, OR), the anniversary of the date in 1955 when she was arrested for refusing to move to the back of a bus and give her seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, AL, making her a symbol of the American Civil Rights Movement.

COMING UP . . .
[Thurs] Fritters Day
[Thurs] Mutt Day
[Fri] Make a Gift Day
[Fri] Roof-Over-Your-Head Day

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2003 [18] The 3rd and final “Lord Of the Rings” movie, “The Return Of the King”, premieres in Wellington NZ (11 Oscars, became the #2 grossing movie all-time, now it is #24, at $1.15 billion)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1971 [50] John Lennon & Yoko Ono’s ‘Happy Xmas (War is Over)’ is released

2011 [10] It’s a good day for comedy writers and late-night talk show hosts as Hanson announces “MMMHop” beer (a take off on their one-and-only hit “MMMBop” in 1997)

2018 [03] Nick Jonas marries Priyanka Chopra in Jodhpur India.

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2019 [02] The earliest traceable patient, a 55-year-old man, develops symptoms of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1997 [24] Using a technique called circular breathing, Kenny G sets the world record for longest note held on a wind instrument (saxophone) at 45 minutes and 47 seconds. (in 2017 — Femi Kuti breaks the record, going 51:35)

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Over 1800 people belong to the “Jim Smith Society”. All of them are named Jim Smith.
✓ Forrest Mars, the creator of Peanut M&M’s, was allergic to peanuts.
✓ Lions are the only cats that live in packs.
✓ If you refrigerate rubber bands, they will last longer.
✓ There’s a town in Oklahoma named “Hooker” and its slogan is “It’s a location, not a vocation”.
✓-DidYouKnow, RandomFactGenerator

Best of BS . . .
BS WHYZITS:
• Whyzit women can’t put on mascara with their mouths closed?
• Whyzit you never see the headline “Psychic Wins Lottery”?
• Whyzit Noah didn’t swat that pair of mosquitoes?
• If flying is so safe, whyzit they call an airport a ‘terminal’?
• Whyzit books have a bunch of blank pages at the very end?
• Whyzit a guy is called a ‘running back’ in football when he is running forward?
• Whyzit they are called ‘stairs’ inside but ‘steps’ outside?
• Whyzit there’s a light in the fridge but not in the freezer?
• If croutons are made from stale bread, whyzit they come in airtight packages?
• Whyzit toasters have a setting that burns toast to a horrible crisp which no human being would eat?
-First published in BS in 2016

TODAY’S SCOOP OF BS:
➠ The Bidens received the White House Christmas Tree last week, and on Monday, Jill unveiled the holiday decorations, going along with the theme “Gifts from the Heart.” (Everyone who matters was in attendance. Also, Kamala Harris…)
➠ Disney+ has announced that the Star Wars series “Rangers of the New Republic” has been cancelled. (That sound you just heard was our IT department throwing their Xbox paddles at a Mark Hamill poster.)
➠ A woman in the Philippines, believed to be the world’s oldest person, just passed away at age 124. (When reached for comment, Betty White said: “I always liked that kid…”)
➠ A study found that men who wear red send out a signal that they’re angry and aggressive. (That explains why I just got flipped off when I asked the Target worker for a price-check…)
➠ Fact of the Day: Billions of years from now, Earth will have a 30-hour day. (That’s ALL I need – an extra 6 hours a day of my kids playing video games in the basement…)

BS ‘FINISH LINES’:
Ask a phone contestant (kids are great) to finish these famous quotations about football …
• “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the … [size of the fight in the dog.”]
• “In life, as in football, you won’t go far unless … [you know where the goal posts are.”]
• “Let’s win one for the … [Gipper.”]
• “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the … [only thing.”]
• “Football features 2 of the worst aspects of life … [violence and committee meetings.”]
• “Some people think football is a matter of life and death but I can assure them it is … [much
more serious than that.”]
• “Success isn’t owned, it’s leased. And … [rent is due every day.”]
• “The beauty of the game of football is that so often you are called upon to do something beyond your capabilities, and … [you do it.”]
• “Winners never quit, and … [quitters never win.”]
– First published in “BS” 2003

BS WEB GOODIE:
When you’re in the club and Mariah’s Christmas song comes on (sound up): https://tinyurl.com/y9zzfr8s

BS RANDOM JOKE:
“One door closes, another opens. One door closes, another opens. One door closes, another opens”.
That’s me, with a chocolate advent calendar…

BS PHONE STARTER:
What’s the oldest thing that you own and still use?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  The average person buys 3 of THESE every holiday season. What are they?
Answer:  Rolls of wrapping paper

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Every time you are able to find humor in a difficult situation, you win.