Monday, December 20, 2010        Edition: #4411
Don’t Forget to Resubscribe or It’s No Sheet, Sherlock!

WEEKEND TABLOID & BLOG BS:
• A rep for 18-year-old Disney star Demi Lovato denies that the troubled singer/actress is featured in a soon-to-be-leaked explicit video, branding the story ‘disgusting’. The rumor started Friday after a series of racy pics was leaked online. Lovato remains in rehab treatment, dealing with ‘physical and emotional issues’. (If you don’t want ‘em leaked, don’t take ‘em!)
– StarPulse.com
• Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie may be finally tying the knot in the new year. A report out of India suggests they’ll exchange vows on Valentine’s Day at a temple in the country’s northwest officiated by spiritual leader Guru Gurudev Ramlalji Siyag, who’s known the couple since 2005. The twosome previously stated they will not wed until there is marriage equality across the USA. (They’ve already got the big family so why bother wedding?)
– HindustanTimes.com
• TV personality Oprah Winfrey is now relaxing in Fiji, following a frenzied week with fans in Australia. After she and her Chicago studio audience visited some of Australia’s major attractions, including the Outback and the Great Barrier Reef, and taped shows at Sydney’s famed Opera House, she’s spending this week (including Christmas) on the South Pacific island with longtime partner Stedman Graham. (Life’s good when you’re the queen.)
– GossipCop.com
• Music mogul Simon Cowell has shot down reports that fading pop star George Michael will be a judge on the US version of “The X Factor” (FOX). The TV job was being touted as Michael’s return to the spotlight following a series of personal woes, which recently saw him serve time behind bars for driving under the influence of drugs. (He also has a rap sheet in LA he’d have to live down.)
– “Extra”
• 27-year-old actor Sam Jones III, who’s played ‘Craig Shilo’ on “Blue Mountain State” (Spike) and ‘Pete Ross’ on “Smallville” (CW), has pleaded guilty to conspiring to sell the painkiller oxycodone (aka ‘hillbilly heroin’) and admitted to serving as the ‘Hollywood connection’ in a plan to sell more than 10,000 of the pills. He was arrested at his Canoga Park CA home in 2009. His sentencing is now scheduled for next June, when he faces up to 20 years in the slammer. (Lots of time to perfect his new career as a criminal.)
– Celebuzz.com
• “Jersey Shore” star Ronnie Ortiz has been indicted by a grand jury in New Jersey following allegations of a violent altercation with another man in 2009. He’s been charged with 3rd-degree assault after an alleged punch-up in Seaside Heights NJ, where the first season of the show was being filmed. He faces up to 5 years in prison if convicted. (You can tell the show’s 3rd season is just around the corner on January 6th; it seems every year someone gets busted just ahead of the premiere. PR stunt?)
– TMZ.com

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Chelsea Lately” (E!) – Diddy-Dirty Money (“Last Train to Paris”).
• “Conan” (TBS/CTV) – Beach House (“Teen Dream”).
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/A Channel) – Justin Timberlake (“Yogi Bear”).
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC/CityTV) – Goo Goo Dolls (“Something For the Rest Of Us”).
• “Last Call With Carson Daly” (NBC) – Jimmy Eat World (“Invented”).
• “Live With Regis & Kelly” (syndicated/CTV) – Sarah McLachlan (“Laws of Illusion”).
• “Lopez Tonight” (TBS) – Xzibit (“MMX”).
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC/A Channel) – Pink Martini (“Joy To the World”).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Julianne Hough – Country Music Television is denying her allegation that it pulled her new video “Is That So Wrong” due to scenes of her romping around a bedroom wearing next to nothing. The problem, it claims, is ‘contract negotiations’. For the record, the video is fairly tame.
• Lady Gaga – Her ‘meat dress’ worn at this year’s “MTV Video Music Awards” has been selected by “TIME” magazine as the ‘Top Fashion Statement’ of 2010.
• Lauryn Hill – Tonight she kicks off a mini-tour of America in Boston MA. It’s yet unknown when or if she will be releasing another solo album.
• Mariah Carey – Her TV personality-husband Nick Cannon has once again reversed a statement he made to the press and now confirmed they are, in fact, expecting twins. The babes are due next Spring.
• Montgomery Gentry – Eddie Montgomery is now recuperating at home after prostate cancer surgery last week. A press release suggests no further treatment should be needed.
• Rascal Flatts – Seems Jay DeMarcus’ wife Allison figured “Why Wait?” and went ahead and birthed their first child on Friday, a daughter they’ve named Madeline Leigh DeMarcus.
• Tim McGraw – He’ll be among next season’s guests tracking down their family roots on NBC-TV’s “Who Do You Think You Are?”, starting in February.

MONKEYING WITH PASSWORDS:
Millions of web users are being asked to reset their passwords as concerns spread over a major hacking attack against show biz website Gawker.com. Yahoo, Twitter, and LinkedIn have all asked users to change their details as well as the online game site World of Warcraft. Exposed registrations show that the most popular password among Gawker users was ‘123456’, followed by ‘password’. Other common terms include ‘monkey’, ‘qwerty’ and ‘consumer’. Although security experts warn against the use of passwords that are easy to guess, research suggests it’s increasingly common online. (Monkey? What’s that all about?)
– BBC News

NO WONDER I’M BROKE ALL THE TIME:
An economist from the University of Texas has released extensive research from the US, Canada, and China which proves conclusively that beautiful people earn more money than the rest of us. His studies suggest that people in the top 30% in the looks department earn between 3-to-5% more than those in the middle 60% of the appearance scale. People in the bottom 10% do even worse, earning 10% less than average. (Especially if they’re fashion models.)
– NewScientist.com

TOP TREES:
Experts say these are the best Christmas trees, based on ‘needle-retention time’ …
• Colorado Blue Spruce, Balsam Fir … 2-to-3 weeks.
• Scotch Pine, Douglas Fir, Eastern White Pine … 4-to-5 weeks.
• Noble Fir, Concolor (White) Fir … 5 weeks.
• Fraser Fir … Up to 6 weeks.
(They missed ‘Aluminum … 700 years’)
– “Detroit Free Press”

WHY WE CHILL:
Scientists have shed new light on how humans experience cold. According to a recent study, nerves that sense chilly conditions take their orders from a single protein rather than groups of specialized neurons which detect cold sensations, as previously thought. (This exciting news does nothing for those of you with icicles in your moustache this morning while using an ice scraper … on your eyeglasses.)
– Reuters.com

BEAUTY SLEEP EXISTS:
Turns out the most attractive people also get the most sleep. A new study by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden shows that people who get more sleep appear more attractive. In experiments, observers consistently found photos of sleep-deprived subjects to be uglier than well-rested subjects. Researchers suggest the findings show that humans are sensitive to sleep-related facial cues, with ‘potential implications for social and clinical judgments and behavior’. (BS translation: You look like crap … get some sleep!)
– TIME.com

BEST-MANNERED PEOPLE 2010:
The top celebs when it comes to etiquette & graciousness, according to the Charlotte NC-based National League of Junior Cotillions, which hosts the website ‘Etiquette for Today’ …
• NFL QB Drew Brees (Saints), for setting a positive example and helping New Orleans rebuild.
• Pop singer Justin Bieber, for consistently showing courtesy to his fans.
• UK princess-elect Kate Middleton, for showing poise & dignity in the public spotlight.
• NASCAR racer Jamie McMurray, for the respect he’s earned as a professional driver.
• Country singer Taylor Swift, for inspiring young people with her music & her manners.
• Movie actress Sandra Bullock, for setting high standards of excellence as an actress.
• ABC-TV anchor Robin Roberts, for extending warmth & kindness to “Good Morning America” guests.
• Bill & Melinda Gates, for their example of generosity in giving to those less fortunate.
– Mcall.com

FOR THE RECORD:
A glitzy hotel in Abu Dhabi UAE is asking Guinness World Records to certify it is home to the ‘World’s Most Expensive Christmas Tree’. The jewel-encrusted tree which adorns the lobby of the Emirates Palace hotel is said to be worth over $11 million. Scores of precious stones are draped on the tree’s branches, alongside more traditional baubles and lights. Not surprisingly, the tree is protected by 24/7 security, including 4 guards and video cameras. Ironically, the vast majority of the population of the UAE is Muslim, although Abu Dhabi is considered very liberal.
– AFP

DID YOU KNOW?
• Freddie Mercury, Rod Stewart, and Elton John were once going to form a band, called Hair, Nose & Teeth.
– PopBitch.com
• The English language has doubled in worldwide popularity over the past century.
– “Daily Telegraph”
• The average adult spends 24 minutes-a-day fetching and drinking hot drinks.
– “Magazine Monitor”

BS CHRONOMETER 12.20.10

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1966 [44] Chris Robinson, Atlanta GA, rock singer (Black Crowes-“She Talks to Angels”, “Hard to Handle”)/married to actress Kate Hudson 2000-06

1982 [28] David Cook, Houston TX, pop singer (“Light On”, “The Time of My Life”)/”American Idol” 7 winner (2008)

1983 [27] Jonah Hill, Mill Valley CA, movie actor (“Megamind”, “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”)

1990 [20] JoJo (Joanna Noelle Levesque), Foxborough MA, pop singer (“Too Little Too Late”, “Leave [Get Out]”)/movie actress (“RV”, “Shark Tale”)

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Games Day”. The best-selling board game of all-time? ‘Monopoly’, with over 200 million games sold in 80 countries and in 26 languages since 1935. In fact, an estimated 500 million people around-the-world have played ‘Monopoly’ since its inception.

• “Try To Remember Where You Hid the Christmas Gifts Day”.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1946 [64] Frank Capra’s classic film “It’s A Wonderful Life”, starring Jimmy Stewart, premieres in NYC

2009 [01] 32-year-old movie actress Brittany Murphy (“8 Mile”, “Clueless”) collapses & dies in her home after cardiac arrest (husband Simon Monjack is found dead under similar circumstances at the same Hollywood Hills CA residence 5 months later)

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1952 [58] Jimmy Boyd’s “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” reaches #1 on pop charts

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1842 [168] 1st ‘In-Home Bathtub’ in America is unveiled at one Adam Thompson’s house party in Virginia (some party!)

1879 [131] 1st demonstration of ‘Incandescent Light Bulb’ by Thomas Edison (Christmas tree lights are developed just 3 years later by Edison’s assistant Edward Johnson)

1911 [99] 1st ‘Artificial Ice Rink’ (created by Frank Patrick in Vancouver BC)

1928 [82] 1st ‘International Dogsled Mail’ leaves Minot, Maine for Montréal, Québec

1980 [30] 1st (and only) NFL telecast with NO announcers (as a stunt, NBC-TV uses only sounds and graphics for meaningless NY Jets-Miami Dolphins game)

1991 [19] NHL grants a new franchise to the Ottawa Senators

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2007 [03] Queen Elizabeth II becomes Britain’s oldest-ever monarch, surpassing Queen Victoria’s lifespan of 81 years, 7 months, 29 days

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Tues] Full ‘Cold’ Moon
[Tues] Lunar Eclipse
[Tues] Winter Solstice
[Tues] Global Orgasm for World Peace
[Tues] Crossword Puzzle Day
[Tues] Humbug Day
[Wed] “Country Strong”; “Little Fockers”; “True Grit” open in movie theaters
This Week Is … International Language Week
This Month Is … Safe Toys & Gifts Month

BULL’S BITS

BEST OF BS:
A highlight bit culled from 17 years of “Bull Sheet” back issues …
REAL BUT REALLY ODD CHRISTMAS SUPERSTITIONS:
• Place shoes side-by-side on Christmas Eve to prevent a quarreling family. (Or get a turkey with 6 drumsticks.)
• If you don’t eat any plum pudding, you will lose a friend before the next Christmas. (Likely the one who went to all the effort of making the pudding.)
• A blowing wind on Christmas Day brings good luck. (But not right after dinner.)
• Wearing new shoes on Christmas Day will bring bad luck. (Not to mention aching feet.)
• Snow on Christmas means Easter will be green. (Uh, like when wasn’t it?)
• If you refuse mince pie at Christmas dinner, you will have bad luck for a year. (But you’ll save the embarrassment of upchucking on the dinner table.)
• It’s bad luck to let any fire go out in your house during the Christmas season. (It’s worse luck to let the whole shebang burn to the ground!)
• On Christmas Eve all animals can speak, but it is bad luck to hear them. (Especially after your 5th pail of egg nog.)
NET: http://www.FreeRadioPrep.com

BS NAME THE COUNTRY QUIZ:
• In what country did the real St Nicholas live … Sweden, Latvia, or Turkey? [He was bishop of the Turkish town of Myra in the early 4th century.]
• Which country celebrates Christmas with fireworks … China, Taiwan or Brazil? [Brazil.]
• What country was “Good King Wenceslas” from … Scotland, Czechoslovakia, or Germany? [He was a 10th century duke who later became the patron saint of Czechoslovakia. He was not a king, however, but became famous for his good deeds.]
• In which country would it be bad etiquette to send red Christmas cards … New Zealand, Japan, or Cuba? [Japan, since funeral notices there are customarily printed in red.]
• In which country do kids anxiously await “Grandfather Frost”, who shows up with Christmas goodies on January 1st … Russia, Sweden, or Iceland? [Russia, where Santa is known as “D’yed Moroz.”]

BS PHONE STARTER:
Today is “Go Caroling Day”. What’s the absolute worst seasonal song to try to sing?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I went to a holiday party on the weekend where they served hors d’oeuvres. That’s basically a single ham sandwich cut into 40 pieces.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: 150,000 men will do THIS on Christmas morning.
Answer to Give Out Next Show: Pop the question.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Real joy comes from doing something worthwhile.