Wednesday, January 3, 2024 – Edition: #7626

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BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
★ Ian Ziering has spoken out following the “alarming” biker attack he experienced on New Year’s Eve. The “Beverly Hills, 90210” actor took to Instagram to write: “While stuck in traffic, my car was approached aggressively by one of these riders leading to an unsettling confrontation. In an attempt to assess any damage I exited my car. This action, unfortunately, escalated into a physical altercation, which I navigated to protect myself.” Ziering went on to say that he’s “relieved” to report that he and his daughter escaped injury, but “the incident has left me deeply concerned about the growing boldness of such groups who disrupt public safety and peace.” He also encouraged city officials and law enforcement to “take decisive action against such lawlessness”. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/43wvrbuc
-NYPost
★ Actress and stuntwoman Carrie Bernans was critically injured during an alleged hit and run in New York City at 1:30 AM Monday. Bernans, whose work includes 2023’s “The Color Purple” as well as Marvel’s “Black Panther” and “Avengers” movies, was hurt along with 8 others. Her publicist said she was struck by a driver who crashed into an outdoor dining area at a restaurant in Manhattan. The driver then backed up and rammed into another car before police appeared. She is reported to have suffered broken bones, fractures, and chipped teeth, and is in stable condition following surgery.
-Deadline
★ George R. R. Martin says he has 3 “Game of Thrones’ animated series in the works. In a new blog post, the Game of Thrones creator praised Netflix’s animated series “Blue Eye Samurai, and advised readers: “Even if you don’t normally watch animation, give it a try. It’s terrific.” He then dropped this little nugget: “As it happens, HBO and I have our own animated projects, set in the world of “A Song Of Ice & Fire.” None of them have been greenlit yet, but I think we are getting close to taking the next step with a couple of them.”
-Variety
★ Elijah Blue Allman’s estranged wife is going after Cher for throwing her son “into a lockdown facility” in Mexico a few months before filing for a conservatorship. Marieangela King said that Cher and her family “historically excluded” her from making decisions regarding Allman’s care, and claims Cher “kidnapped” her son to get him into rehab and placed him in a “locked cage” instead of a “legitimate, ethically operated” facility. King says she hoped to settle Allman’s substance abuse issues privately before Cher filed to be sole conservator.
-PageSix
★ George Clooney and Brad Pitt’s reunion movie “Wolfs” has confirmed a release date for this year. The Apple Original Films project will land in theaters on September 20. While plot details are yet to be revealed, the film is said to follow 2 fixers, presumably played by Pitt and Clooney, who are assigned to the same job.
-DigitalSpy

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (ABC/Global): Keegan-Michael Key, Charles Melton; Lainey Wilson (R)
• “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” (NBC/CTV): Julia Roberts, Hasan Minhaj, Busta Rhymes, Cie, Trillian and Rai (R)
• “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (CBS/Global): Adam Driver, Jon Batiste (R)
• “Late Night with Seth Meyers” (NBC/CTV): Maluma, Tony Shalhoub (R)
• “The View” (ABC/CTV): Day of Hot Topics
• “The Talk” (CBS): Ken Jeong, Zoe Lister-Jones
• “Live With Kelly and Mark” (ABC/CTV): Tom Holland, Mikey Day, Vanessa Williams
• “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (Check local listings): Brandy Clark, Brie Larson, Cash Warren, Alan Stuart, David Ehrenberg, Danielle Kartes (R)
• “The Drew Barrymore Show” (Check local listings): Gayle King, Tony Dokoupil, Nate Burleson, Vladimir Duthiers (R)
• “Jennifer Hudson Show” (Check local listings):  Alethea Crimmins
• “I Can See Your Voice” (Fox): Season 3 premiere. Premiere: Lauren Alaina, Nikki Glaser, DeRay Davis, Cheryl Hines, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton
• “Magnum P.I.” (NBC): Series finale. Magnum and Higgins take a major step forward in their relationship; the past comes back to haunt them when a previous suspect becomes their client.
• “We Are Family” (Fox): Series premiere. The first 3 celebrity reveals hit the stage.

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Ariana Grande – has a new album coming this year. Last week, she posted a series of studio pics and videos, and wrote: “See you next year.” Referring to pics showing her laughing and crying, she explained: “The two moods of the album”. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/3eedp5a9
• Lewis Capaldi — About 6 months after announcing that he was going on hiatus from touring, he revealed on social media that he has noticed an improvement in his wellbeing, but he’s still not ready to step back into the spotlight. Jan. 1, he dropped an extended version of his latest album “Broken By the Desire to Be Heavenly Sent”, with 5 additional songs. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/54jh72se
• Psy – His 2012 monster hit ‘Gangnam Style’ music video has topped 5 billion views on YouTube. In December 2012, it became the first video ever to hit 1 billion views, about 150 days after its debut.
• Scott Weiland – The late Stone Temple Pilots frontman’s son Noah, who is a rising pop artist, says his father was “millions in debt when he died” in 2015. That’s why Noah is annoyed when he’s referred to as a “trust fund baby.” He also claims his mother “has always worked a normal job”.
• Billy Joel — assured fellow Long Islanders he is not leaving New York for good, despite the fact that he has listed his mansion there for $49 million. During his New Year’s Eve show in Elmont, he pointed out to the crowd that he still has a summer home there, but he plans to “spend a little more time in Florida, like old Jewish guys from Long Island do.”
• Morgan Wallen – has confirmed he’s hard at work on his eagerly anticipated next album. No word on a title or release date yet, but shortly before Christmas, he shared a snippet of what appears to be an unreleased collab with Post Malone, ‘I Had Some Help’. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/4h57t5nw
• Kane Brown – He and his wife Katelyn, are expecting their third child. They announced the news on social media on Christmas day, alongside a family photo, with the caption: “Last Christmas of 4”. LINK: http://tinyurl.com/2s3hjkhu
• Jelly Roll – has high praise for Lainey Wilson. The 2 are probably country’s hottest newcomers right now, and when asked about their success, Jelly said: “I pride myself on being a really hard worker. This is what I say to people: I do the stuff that other people in this town won’t do, Lainey Wilson does the stuff that I won’t do.” Both are already booked through the end of 2024.

SHOOTING THE BULL

WORK PERK:
Did you receive a year-end bonus? Is yours performance-related? This company’s is – literally. As in athletic performance-related. To promote a healthy lifestyle among its 100 employees, China’s Guangdong Dongpo Paper company is now rewarding them based on how much they exercise. Workers are eligible for a full monthly bonus if they run 50km a month. They will get 60% of the bonus for running 40km, and 30% for 30km. Running enthusiasts stand to get an additional 30% bonus if they can prove they ran over 100km in a single month. The distance run by employees is tracked by an app on their phones, which also takes into account activities like mountain hiking and speed walking.
(Great idea! No, wait. It involves running. Bad idea!)
(…because you really want your employer to be able to track your every move – even when you’re not at work, right?)
(So, instead of a “year-end” bonus, it’s a “move your rear-end” bonus?)
-OddityCentral

BEARLY-THERE CLOTHING:
If you’re really feeling the cold these days, then this is for you: Soon, you might be able to dress like a polar bear. Researchers in China have created a new type of fiber for clothing that takes inspiration from polar bear fur, and could revolutionize how we make winter clothing, like sweaters and jackets. What makes polar bear fur unique is the fact that each hair has a porous core and a dense outer shell, allowing them to stay warm and dry in freezing conditions. Mimicking this, the researchers created a strong aerogel fiber that can stretch up to 10 times its original length without breaking – something that wasn’t possible before. Aerogels are incredibly lightweight materials known for their exceptional ability to insulate against heat. In a demonstration, the team knitted a thin sweater from these fibers. Although it is about 5 times thinner than a typical down jacket, it was shown to offer similar warmth.
(Awesome! It’ll be great to have a new type of winter clothing for teenagers to refuse to wear!)
(In fact, it’s so thin, that I’m probably going to accidentally wear it to the gym in the middle of summer!)
-StudyFinds

RE: TIRED DOCTOR:
I’m not sure if these work, but they’re definitely worth a shot. A sleep expert claims he has 3 easy fixes
for you if you constantly feel tired and don’t get enough sleep. Dr. Nerina Ramlakhan says that humming is one trick to combat tiredness, thanks to a chemical reaction that happens inside the body. How? According to the good doctor, when humming with the mouth closed, the body produces “nitric oxide in the nasal cavities, which is an antiseptic, antiviral and anti-inflammatory.” After humming, immediately inhale through the nose, to capture the nitric oxide, which should make you feel more awake. The UCLA professor of molecular and medical pharmacology also suggests taking regular breaks for a few minutes – and keeping them screen-free – every 90 minutes as a way to help stay fresh. His third tip? Think positively, because “fatigue is a common side-effect of anxiety”.
(Sorry, but both your partner and TikTok are betting you can’t take a break and have it be “screen-free!)
(So – if you’re not getting enough ZZZZZZZs, try some MMMMMMMs?)
-NYPost

WORDS AND PHRASES BANNED FOR 2024:
Michigan’s Lake Superior State University has released its 2024 “List of Words Banished From the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse & General Uselessness”. Here is this year’s crop — and why they are no longer to be used, effective immediately…
✗ Hack:  Used to impart an aura of innovation or sophistication to various subjects. But the frequency with which it is used, beyond its tech roots, lessens its significance. (Hey! I was called a “hack” before hacking was cool!)
✗ Impact:  Especially when used as a verb. We have a perfectly good word that makes more sense: “affect”? (OK. Hand me my Affect Wrench, please!)
✗ At the end of the day:  A rhetorical device that attempts to explain the complexities of a situation, it is so overused, it has become meaningless. This phrase has been banished in the past, and it was time to do it again. (So, it’s also overused by the people making the list?)
✗ Rizz:  A short form for “charisma,” it has become popular on social media. But it is used so often, one must wonder whether it retains its relevance. (Has rizz lost its rizz?)
✗ Slay:  While perfectly acceptable in specific contexts, it is now used in situations where it was not intended to be used, particularly to describe routine or mundane actions. (Still, I slayed at parallel parking this morning!)
✗ Iconic:  Also banished in 2009, it’s time for a reminder. Its repeated use in contexts that don’t merit such acclaim challenges its “iconic status”. (Isn’t it iconic? I mean ironic?)
✗ Cringe-worthy:  Let’s just say it: “Use of this term is cringe-worthy.” (Hey! I don’t make fun of YOUR fashion choices!)
✗ Obsessed:  The casual use of “obsessed” to describe routine interests or preferences shows misappropriation of the term. Should anyone be “obsessed” with a new kitchen gadget or a new shade of paint? (These people have obviously seen my wife when she gets a new kitchen gadget!)
✗ Side hustle:  The term has gained widespread use, but some feel, in actual fact, the only hustle is the one needed to get TO their second job. (These are, of course, people who have never had to hold down 2 jobs!)
✗ Wait for it:  If used in a viral video, then we’re already waiting for it, right? Does this phrase add extra sparkle – or is it just stating the obvious? (I waited for THAT?)
(“At the end of the day”, what word or phrase would you like to add?)
-LSSU

DID YOU KNOW?
Researchers from the City University of London say they know the perfect excuse for when you don’t want to do what you promised – just say you’re broke! They found that people who blame circumstances outside of their control — like not having enough money — retained more respect from others in comparison to someone who blamed factors like not having enough time. (So…saying “I’m poor” instead of “I’m too busy” is the perfect excuse for breaking my New Year’s resolutions?)
-StudyFinds

BS CHRONOMETER 01.03.24

TODAY’S BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “J.R.R. Tolkien Day” (***Pron: Toll-KEEN***), recognizing the birth date of the author of “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”. The Tolkien Society asks fans to honor his 1892 birth with a toast.
• “Chocolate Covered Cherry Day”, celebrating the traditional dessert. Variations include cherry cordials with liquid fillings, often including cherry liqueur, chocolate-covered candied cherries and chocolate-covered dried cherries. (Go ahead…wasn’t one of your resolutions to eat more fruit??)
• “Drinking Straw Day”, celebrating the patent of the first artificial straw on this date in 1888. Drinking straws were hand-rolled until 1905. (How on earth were kids able to enjoy juice in their minivans before the invention of the straw?)
• “Festival of Sleep Day”, as declared by some anonymous walking zombie somewhere. Thanks to a combination of late hours, alcohol, rich foods, exposure to unfamiliar surroundings, and artificial light deep into the night over the holiday season, experts say most of us build up ‘sleep debt’, a condition which can affect how well we sleep for weeks afterward.
• “Humiliation Day” No, it is NOT a day to humiliate someone! Today, we recognize the negative effects that humiliation can have on people or groups of people (And dogs forced to wear onesies…)

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] Trivia Day
[Thurs] Spaghetti Day
[Fri] Bird Day
[Sat] Take Down the Christmas Tree Day
This Week Is…Diet Resolution Week
This Month Is…Be Kind to Food Servers Month

TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1945 [79] Stephen Stills, Dallas TX, folk-rock singer/guitarist (Crosby, Stills & Nash-‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’, Buffalo Springfield-‘For What It’s Worth’)

1946 [78] John Paul Jones, Kent England, rock bassist/multi-instrumentalist/producer (Led Zeppelin-‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Whole Lotta Love’, Them Crooked Vultures-‘New Fang’)

1950 [74] Victoria Principal, Fukuoka Japan, TV actress (“Dallas” 1978-1991, “Titans” 2000-2001)

1956 [68] Mel Gibson, Peekskill NY, movie producer/director (“Braveheart”, “The Passion of the Christ”)/movie actor (“Lethal Weapon” series, “Mad Max” series) COMING UP… “Boys of Summer”

1969 [55] Michael Schumacher, Hürth West Germany, retired Formula One driver (7-time F1 champion who continues to receive private rehab after a 2013 brain injury suffered in a skiing accident)

1975 [49] Thomas Bangalter, Paris France, electronica musician (Daft Punk ft. Pharrell Williams-‘Get Lucky’, The Weeknd ft. Daft Punk-‘Starboy’)

1975 [49] Danica McKeller, San Diego CA, TV actress (“The Wonder Years” 1988-1993, “Inspector Mom” 2006-2007)

1981 [43] Eli Manning, New Orleans LA, retired NFL quarterback (2X Super Bowl Champ and MVP-NY Giants)/brother of Peyton Manning/son of NFL veteran Archie Manning

1996 [28] Florence Pugh, Oxford England, movie actress (“Don’t Worry Darling”, “Little Women”) COMING UP… “Dune: Part Two”, 2024

2003 [21] Greta Thunberg (***Pron: GRAY-tah TOON-bairyeh***), Stockholm Sweden, environmental activist (known for her work to halt climate change and global warming)/Time’s Person of the Year, 2019

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
2013 [11] Actor Gerard Depardieu is granted citizenship by Russian president Vladimir Putin after renouncing his French citizenship due to the country’s high taxes

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENTS . . .
1987 [37] The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducts its first female artist, Aretha Franklin. Also among those inducted: Roy Orbison, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Carl Perkins

2002 [22] Liam & Noel Gallagher of Oasis top a poll on the celebrities that people would least like to live next to, with 40% of the vote

2004 [20] Britney Spears marries childhood friend Jason Alexander at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, and 55 hours later, has the union annulled

TODAY’S FIRSTS . . .
1977 [47] Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs incorporate Apple Computer, Inc. On this date in 2022, Apple becomes the first US company to be worth $3 trillion

2009 [15] The Bitcoin network is created, as the first block of the digital currency is mined by a person or group of people using the name Satoshi Nakamoto

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1992 [32] Bernard Moeller of Pennsylvania gets his 14,000th tattoo, leading to a Guinness record as the “Person with the Most Individual Tattoo Designs”

BULL’S BITS

BS WHACK FACTS:
✓ More couples separate or divorce in January than any other month of the year.
✓ During your lifetime, you’ll eat about 60,000 pounds of food. That’s the weight of about 6 elephants.
✓ If a Polar Bear and a Grizzly Bear mate, their offspring is called a “Pizzy Bear”.
✓ Adult cats only meow at humans, not other cats.
✓ Millionaires who earned their wealth are happier than those who inherited it, according to a study.
✓ Attics were invented in Attica.
-RandomFactGenerator, TheFactSite

Best of BS . . .
BS CONFERENCE CALL ETIQUETTE:
• Eating Doritos
• Asking other participants what they are wearing
• Screaming “YAHTZEE!” When you don’t have Yahtzee
• Fake accent
• Mocking other participants with sock puppets
• Answering all questions with the phrase “What would Jesus do?”
• Forgetting to hit ‘mute’ before going to the bathroom
• Disguising your voice with helium and talking trash about the boss
• Putting your hands over your ears and saying, “La-la-la I can’t hear you!”
• Beatboxing
-Twitter, first published in BS in 2019

BS SIGNS YOU’VE JOINED A BAD GYM:
More people sign up at fitness clubs this week than any other time of the year. Beware if …
• The door to the front desk has a slot in it that slides open to verify your membership.
• There’s a KFC between the aerobics area and the free weights.
• The personal trainer claims that carrying his groceries up 30 flights is much better than a Stair-Master.
• It’s not actually carpet in the locker room, it’s really thick shower mould.
• On the way to the workout area, you pass several members’ memorial plaques.
-First Published in BS in 2017

BS WEB GOODIE:
Also 2024, I’m sure:  http://tinyurl.com/w4vhesnt

BS RANDOM JOKE:
Dear unknown person. Please stop feeding the voodoo doll of me.

BS U-PICK TRIVIA:
• In which city does the original “CSI” take place?
a) New York
b) Miami
c) Las Vegas [CORRECT]
d) Walla Walla

• Which musical artist has had the most #1 hits on US Billboard charts?
a) The Beatles
b) George Strait [CORRECT]
c) Elvis Presley
d) Chumbawamba

• Which book is NOT a movie in the “Twilight” series?
a) New Moon
b) Eclipse
c) Breaking Dawn
d) Midnight (Taylor’s Version) [CORRECT]
-ProProfs

BS PHONE STARTER:
When do you think was the best time to be alive? Or the worst?

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Question:  A survey says that 1 in 4 of us can’t name a single one of THESE. What are they?
Answer:  Neighbors

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
Chop your own wood, and it will warm you twice.