Monday, February 15, 2021 – Edition: #6917
Ahhh, It’s Your Daily Constitutional Sheet!
BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
(***UPDATE***) ★ Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are expecting their second child. In announcing the news, they shared an intimate black-and-white photo with Markle cradling her baby bump. The news comes a few months after Markle talked of her “almost unbearable grief” after suffering a miscarriage in July. The new arrival will be the first baby of British royal descent to be born in the US after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit their positions as senior royals earlier this year. Their son, Archie, turns 2 in May.
-PageSix
★ “Bachelor” host Chris Harrison has announced he’s “stepping aside” from the show “for a period of time” after defending a frontrunner on the current season who came under scrutiny for social media photos from her past. Harrison, who also produces the show, said in an Instagram post: “This historic season of The Bachelor should not be marred or overshadowed by my mistakes or diminished by my actions.” Harrison had previously apologized after speaking out on behalf of Rachael Kirkconnell, a contestant who was reportedly photographed at an antebellum plantation-themed fraternity formal in 2018. This is the 25th season of ABC’s popular reality dating franchise and the first in which ABC cast a Black man, Matt James, as the show’s star.
-CNN
★ Ashley Judd is detailing how she became involved in a “catastrophic accident” in which she nearly lost a leg, while doing conservation work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Speaking from her hospital bed, Judd explained that a faulty head lamp made it difficult for her to see during an excursion and she tripped over a fallen tree, breaking her leg in 4 places and suffering nerve damage. Judd is currently recovering in an ICU trauma unit in a South Africa hospital and is unable to walk. She said it took 55 “harrowing” hours to get her from the rainforest to the hospital, where she had surgery to save her right leg.
-Yahoo
★ Former “The Mandalorian” actress Gina Carano will be collaborating with Ben Shapiro’s conservative news website The Daily Wire to develop a new film project. The announcement came less than 24 hours after it was announced that Carano had been fired from “The Mandalorian” for controversial social media posts that seemingly compared the treatment of Republicans to Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Meanwhile, Hasbro, the manufacturer of “Star Wars toys”, has reportedly cancelled a planned action figure featuring ‘Cara Dune’, the character played by Carano on The Mandalorian.
-Insider, ComicBook
★ “Jeopardy!” champion Brayden Smith, who died suddenly at age 24, had suffered health complications following an operation, according to his family. He was hospitalized for days prior to his death on Feb. 5th. Smith had been a champion competitor during Alex Trebek’s final episodes before the host lost his battle with pancreatic cancer. He won five games in a row and more than $115,000 during his stint on the show, which was taped in October, and was poised to return to the show for its regular “Tournament of Champions” bracket, in which multi-episode winners go head-to-head.
-NYPost
TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Camila Mendes, Olivia Rodrigo (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Jamila Woods (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Gillian Anderson, Kate Flannery, Bartees Strange (R)
• ” The Late Late Show with James Corden” (CBS/CTV): Max Greenfield, Ashe & Niall Horan (R)
• “Conan” (TBS): Bob Newhart (R)
• “Watch What Happens Live” (Bravo): Francesca Rubi, Eddie Lucas
• “The Talk” (CBS): Tracee Ellis Ross, Alexandra Breckenridge
• “Live with Kelly and Ryan” (ABC/CTV): Awkwafina
• “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” (NBC/CTV): Kat Dennings
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Kal Penn, Teresa Palmer, Sarah Wright Olsen, Capt. Lee Rosbach
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS): Taye Diggs, Michael Symon, Jo Ellen Pellman (R)
• “The Bachelor” (ABC): Former cast member Heather Martin isn’t the only source of drama during this week that includes 2 one-on-one dates, a group date, two rose ceremonies and a performance by Aloe Blacc.
BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Post Malone – will headline a virtual Pokemon concert. He’ll perform as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations for the iconic animated franchise on “Pokemon Day”, Feb. 27. A trailer for the free event posted on the official Pokemon YouTube channel, where the set will be streamed, features a cartoon version of Malone.
• Pink – She and her daughter Willow released their duet just in time for Valentine’s Day. Willow Sage Hart showed off her vocals in Pink’s first TikTok post, belting out the original tune called ‘Cover Me in Sunshine’, which was made available on Friday.
• Justin Timberlake – has apologized for past behavior after it was the subject of debate following the release of the “Framing Britney Spears” documentary. In a statement, he said: “I am deeply sorry for the times…where my actions contributed to the problem…I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.”
• Phil Collins – After raking in more than $2 million earlier this month by selling off some of his awards and gold records along with her own valuables, his ex-wife Orianne Cevey is holding a 2nd auction, featuring Collins’ 1989 International Rock Award for MVP Drummer, a Gold record for 2002’s “Testify”, and a hand-signed Nick Faldo framed photo from the 2018 Masters.
• Foo Fighters – have scored their 5th number one album in the UK. They shot straight to the top of the Official Albums Chart on Friday, following the release of “Medicine at Midnight”. It outsold the next 6 albums on the chart combined.
• Wolfgang Van Halen – He and his band Mammoth WVH performed on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Thursday, playing tribute to his late father Eddie Van Halen with the single ‘Distance’. Proceeds from the song will go to Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, Eddie’s favorite charity.
• Maren Morris — and her husband Ryan Hurd’s new duet ‘Chasing After You’ isn’t the only music that she’s been working on. She has revealed that she’s “actually about to start recording” her third studio album. By the way, songs aren’t the only things that the pair have written together. According to Hurd, they also wrote their wedding vows — while sitting, across from each other in a bar.
• Ashley McBryde — will drop the six-song EP “Never Will: Live From A Distance,” on May 28. The lead-off track ‘First Thing I Reach For’ has been released, as well as her current single ‘Martha Devine’, which also will be on the EP.
• Garth Brooks – He and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, have canceled everything on their calendar for two weeks to quarantine “due to someone on their team testing positive for Covid-19” according to a tweet from his official account. The couple backed out of their scheduled appearance as “Ellen” co-hosts scheduled for Friday (Feb. 12).
SHOOTING THE BULL
LOSING MORE THAN YOUR APPETITE:
A drug that suppresses appetite has helped some people lose more than a fifth of their body weight. In a study, patients given a weekly injection of the drug, Semaglutide (which is normally used on diabetes patients in smaller doses), experienced an average 15kg (33lbs) weight loss during the 15-month trial. After 68 weeks of treatment with the drug – which suppresses appetite due to a variety of effects on the brain, participants lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight. This makes the drug twice as effective as existing weight-loss medications, and approaches the levels of efficacy of surgical interventions, according to researchers from University of Cambridge, who developed the treatment. Study participants reported that while on Semaglutide, losing weight was “effortless.” The bad news? Once the trial ended, their regular appetite returned.
(Side effects included pancreatitis, mood swings, and not being able to pronounce the drug you’re on!)
(It is only available as an injection, because no patients had the appetite to take it orally!)
(Oh well, I guess for me the only sure-fire weight loss method is coffee and my cooking!)
-BBC, ScienceAlert
DOUBLE-MASKER:
Now that you’re almost used to wearing a mask to protect yourself from COVID-19, how do you feel about wearing TWO? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that wearing TWO masks can decrease aerosols by about 95%. Wearing one mask was found to only block about 40%. Their research found that wearing a cloth mask over a surgical one, or wearing a tight-fitting medical mask, found provides significantly better protection against airborne viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. Adding a mask-fitting device or a nylon covering, both of which help to better seal off the sides, can also help. The goal behind wearing a second mask and of fitting them securely is to direct airflow through the mask, rather than allowing aerosols to leak around the sides.
(Are we going to start calling people who wear 2 masks “Multi-maskers”?)
(Would this make my crazy Uncle Larry an “Anti-anti-masker”?)
-PopularScience
ICING THE PUCK:
At 6AM (MST) today, the buzzer was expected to sound at an outdoor rink near Edmonton, AB, ending the world’s longest-ever hockey game, after 252 hours (10.5 days). What has made it an even more amazing achievement for the 40 players taking part in 6-8 hour shifts, is the fact that the area is in the midst of a bone-chilling cold snap, and they have been playing in temperatures that have dropped as low as -55°C (-67°F) with the wind chill. Event founder Brent Saik says playing conditions have been “terrible”, with pucks shattering, skate blades breaking, masks falling off as glue lets go and goalie pads cracking in the cold. Participants are aiming to raise $1.5 million to fund cancer research at the University of Alberta.
(On the other hand, their equipment doesn’t smell nearly as bad as it usually does!)
(No trouble keeping the ice in good shape, though…)
(The only time the warm-ups happen AFTER the game!)
-CP
CLEARING UP SOME MYTHS ABOUT CLEANING:
➢ Bleach is best: Though most of us associate the smell of bleach with clean, bleach doesn’t really clean at all. It disinfects, kills germs, and can whiten stains, but it doesn’t clean dirt and grime. So, if you’re trying remove the grit from your bathtub, you’ll need an actual cleaning product. (I’m glad to hear that. I thought my kids were just really, really dirty…)
➢ Newspaper will give you streak-free glass: At one time, newspapers were made of papers and ink that left mirrors and glasses streak-free. Today, it’s made from different materials that do leave streaks on your mirrors. Use rubbing alcohol or a glass cleaner with a microfibre cloth. (And newspaper’s losing streak continues!)
➢ Feather dusters dust: More often than not, they just spread the dust around. Instead, reach for a vacuum with a nozzle attachment or a damp cloth.
➢ Fragrant scents equal clean: When a product is labelled “fresh laundry” or “clean spring air”, it may smell wonderful, but doesn’t do a thing when it comes to actually removing dirt, stains, and germs. (Which is exactly what my wife says about me!)
➢ You should wash all clothes in cold water: Most laundry can be washed in cold water, but some things, like whites, should be washed on ‘hot’, and man-made fibres, knits, and jeans should be washed on ‘warm’. (Strange how that unfolded…)
➢ Cleaning solutions act instantly: You can’t expect to spray a product and instantly see a perfectly clean, spotless surface. After applying a cleaning solution, let it soak. You usually need to add a bit of elbow grease, too.
(Man, am I ever glad I only have to worry about these things once a year!)
-ReadersDigest
DID YOU KNOW?
All the COVID-causing virus circulating in the world right now could easily fit inside a single soda can, according to a calculation by a British mathematician, in an effort at demonstrating just how much devastation is caused by minuscule viral particles. Bath University maths expert Kit Yates said he used the diameter of SARS-CoV-2 – at an average of about 100 nanometers, or 100 billionths of a meter – and then figured out the volume of the spherical virus. Even accounting for the coronavirus’ projecting spike proteins and the fact that the spherical particles will leave gaps when stacked together, he determined the total is still less than in a single 330 ml (11oz) soda can.
-Reuters
BS CHRONOMETER 02.15.21
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1951 [70] Jane Seymour, Hayes England, TV actress (“Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” 1993-1998, “Smallville” 2004-2005)
1954 [67] Matt Groening, Portland OR, animator/TV show creator-writer (“The Simpsons”, “Futurama”)
1973 [48] Alex Borstein, Highland Park IL, TV actress (voice of ‘Lois Griffin’ on “Family Guy” since 1998, “MADtv” 1997-2009)
1974 [47] Omarosa Manigault, Youngstown OH, reality star (“The Apprentice”, “Celebrity Big Brother”/Director of Communications for the Office of Public Liaison in the White House 2017-2018)
1976 [45] Brandon Boyd, Van Nuys CA, rock singer (Incubus-‘Drive’, ‘Megalomaniac’)
1976 [45] Ronnie Vannucci Jr, Las Vegas NV, rock drummer (The Killers-‘When You Were Young’, ‘Mr. Brightside’)
1986 [35] Amber Riley, Los Angeles CA, TV actress (“Glee” 2009-15)
1995 [25] Megan Thee Stallion (Megan Pete), San Antonio Texas, singer-rapper (Cardi B ft. Megan Thee Stallion-‘WAP’, w/ Beyoncé-‘Savage’)
TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Family Day”, observed in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick on the third Monday in February (In BC, it falls on the 2nd Mon.). Family Day celebrates the importance of families and family life to people and their communities.
• “Presidents’ Day”, also known as Washington’s Birthday, it’s a holiday to honor the first US president, George Washington, who was actually born on February 22, 1732, and an occasion to remember all the presidents (or at least the ones you WANT to remember…)
• “National Flag of Canada Day”, the 26th annual official celebration of Canada’s Maple Leaf flag. It was first unveiled on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill in 1965, replacing the ‘Red Ensign’.
• “Singles Awareness Day”, to provide single people with an alternative to Valentine’s Day festivities. Some consider Singles Awareness Day (sometimes shortened to S.A.D.) the “anti-Valentine’s Day.” (But at least you can celebrate with half-price chocolate!)
• “Gumdrop Day”, honoring the popular, gelatin-based candy which has been a favorite for decades. Nowadays, ‘Gummi’ candies are the most popular incarnation of the gumdrop.
• “Hippo Day”, celebrating the third largest mammal on Earth. Why not take some time to waddle in a mud bath, get angry with some tourists, and yawn a lot while opening your mouth really-really wide?
• “I Want Butterscotch Day”, the main ingredients are normally butter and brown sugar, but of course there are others. So, what do we do today? Load up on the candies, the fudge and/or baked goods. It’s going to be a sweet day!
• “Susan B. Anthony Day”, honoring the 1820 birth of one of the first women’s rights advocates, and the face on the first US dollar-coin that bombed.
COMING UP . . .
[Tues] Do a Grouch a Favor Day
[Tues] Almond Day
[Wed] Ash Wednesday
[Wed] National PTA Founders’ Day
This Week Is…Random Acts of Kindness Week
This Month Is…Hot Breakfast Month
THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2004 [17] “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”, starring Ty Pennington, debuts on ABC-TV
TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1987 [34] Ice cream maker Ben and Jerry’s introduces the new flavor: ‘Cherry Garcia”, named after Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia.
2016 [05] In her Grammy acceptance speech for “Album of the Year”, Taylor Swift warns about “people along the way who will try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame” (Translation: “Hello, Kanye!”)
TODAY’S FIRST . . .
2001 [20] The first draft of the complete human genome is published in the science journal “Nature”
2010 [11] Men’s freestyle skiing moguls competitor Alexandre Bilodeau wins Canada’s first ever gold medal on home soil at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics
TODAY’S RECORD . . .
2003 [18] The largest peace demonstration in history occurs, as up to 30 million people in over 600 cities worldwide protest the Iraq war
BULL’S BITS
BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ Bubble gum is pink because that was the only food dye available in the factory where it was first made.
✓ The skin is the heaviest organ. The average adult skin weighs about 20 pounds.
✓ “Huh?” is understood in all languages.
✓ Sweden has a ski-through McDonald’s.
✓ Research has shown that dogs actually like the silly, high-pitched voice their owners use to talk to them.
✓ Godzilla is an official citizen of Japan.
-WhattheFFacts, MentalFloss, UberFacts
Best of BS . . .
BS SIGNS YOU WENT ON A BAD VALENTINE’S DAY DATE:
✗ He took you to some joint called ‘Outbreak Steakhouse’.
✗ She told your cabbie she isn’t wearing any underwear. Then the maître d’. Then the waiter.
✗ He hired 3 naked kids with little bows & arrows to ‘set the mood’.
✗ Her eyes said “Yes” … but her probation officer said “No”.
✗ The fur coat he gave you was made entirely out of his own back hair.
✗ You went for a moonlit walk on the beach, and he brought a metal detector.
✗ During dinner, he kept using his toupée to wipe clam sauce off his chin.
✗ Her ponderous 3 words-per-minute sexting meant you spent most of the night staring at your screen.
✗ She STILL isn’t ready.
-First published in BS in 2013
TODAY’S SLICE OF BS:
➠ The 19th season of “American Idol” is underway. (Some thought American Idol would die-off last year. It not only stayed alive but wound up being more entertaining than ever. It’s reality TV’s version of Betty White.)
➠ Today is President’s Day. (Or, as Donald Trump calls it: Monday.)
➠ I just read that sex is biochemically no different from eating large quantities of chocolate. (True, but nine months later you never have to explain who ‘slipped you’ the chocolate!)
➠ A man has turned his dead uncle’s skeleton into a guitar. (Every song he plays is by ear…)
➠ “Hustler” magazine founder Larry Flynt Jr. died on Wednesday at 78. (His body was cremated then quickly stuffed under the mattress before mom came home.)
BS WEB GOODIE:
Mind. Blown (sound up): https://tinyurl.com/tpa55gad
BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• On what type of farm did Taylor Swift grow up?
a) Christmas tree [CORRECT]
b) Cattle
c) Soybean
d) Hemp
• Which celebrity was NOT a Mouseketeer?
a) Ryan Gosling
b) Britney Spears
c) Justin Timberlake
d) Justin Bieber [CORRECT]
• Which celebrity is a former firefighter?
a) Tommy Lee Jones
b) Steve Buscemi [CORRECT]
c) Dwayne Johnson
d) Megan Thee Stallion
-CelebrityTrivia
RANDOM JOKE:
You really don’t realize how weird your friends are until you start to describe them to someone else.
BS PHONE STARTER:
If you could have 50 pounds of anything besides money, what would you choose?
BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question: When it comes to the living room, 43% of families adhere to THIS “rule”. What?
Answer: Assigned seating
BS DEEP THOUGHT:
You can learn a lot from your mistakes when you aren’t busy denying them.