Wednesday, September 10, 2008         Edition: #3854
Deja Moo!

BS SHOW BIZ BUZZ:
The makers of the 2007 Shia LaBeouf movie “Disturbia” are being sued for allegedly ripping off Alfred Hitchcock’s 1954 classic “Rear Window” (the suit is from the owner of rights to the short story on which that movie’s based) . . . In a new “Woman’s Day” magazine poll on ‘Most-Trusted Celebrities’, movie star Tom Hanks comes out on top (40%), followed by talk show maven Oprah Winfrey (37%) . . . The cover of “Esquire” magazine’s 75th-anniversary OCTOBER issue features ‘electronic ink’ that flashes the headline ‘The 21st Century Begins Now’, a new technology that uses micro-capsules of ink controlled by an electric charge (those animated newspapers in “Harry Potter” films weren’t so far-fetched) . . . A UK tabloid is claiming that actress Lindsay Lohan is hoping to raise a baby with girlfriend Sam Ronson, and will rely on one of her ex-BFs to provide the, um, male input (Aaron Carter says he’s up for it) . . . 42-year-old actress Salma Hayek has been spotted at a party with her former fiancé, 46-year-old French tycoon Francois-Henri Pinault (apparently billionaires are a hard habit to break) . . . Britain’s University of Cambridge, which celebrates its 800th birthday NEXT YEAR, is attempting to shed its stuffy, elitist image by offering to serve as a backdrop for long-running UK sci-fi series “Doctor Who” and TV soaps like “Coronation Street” . . . 22-year-old “Gossip Girl” actress Leighton Meester (‘Blair Waldorf ‘) apparently isn’t content just being a TV star, she’s now writing material to record her first music album (she’s as good a singer as she is an actress) . . . And 38-year-old “Good Will Hunting” actress Minnie Driver has given birth to a not-so-little son via an unknown papa; the tyke weighing in at a hefty 9 lbs, 12 oz (she called him ‘Aghhh’).

BS MUSIC NOTES:
• Black Crowes – Even though frontman Chris Robinson & actress Kate Hudson split up in 2006 after a 6-year marriage, she confirms they’re ‘basically still living together’ in California. Their son Ryder is now 5.
• Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert – The country music couple has announced their first-ever tour together, set to kick off OCTOBER 3rd in Richmond VA.
• Britney Spears – Unconfirmed reports say she’s planning to record a duet, a dance track for her new album, with none other than ex-BF Justin Timberlake.
• Katy Perry – A pastor in Ohio is no fan of her mega-hit song. On his church’s marquee sign he’s posted the militantly anti-gay message: “I kissed a girl and I liked it, then I went to hell.” Interestingly, this occurred in the town of Blacklick.
• Lil Wayne – His lawyer has appealed to a New York judge to dismiss an illegal weapons charge against the “Lollipop” rapper, claiming cops conducted an illegal search of his tour bus during the 2007 incident. He’s currently free on $70,000 bail but faces up to 4 years behind bars if convicted.
• Natasha Bedingfield – The 26-year-old “Unwritten” singer has confirmed she’ll soon wed her 2-year boyfriend, California-based businessman Matt Robinson.
• Peter Gabriel – The classic rocker is among those interested in purchasing a dilapidated villa in Salemi, Sicily. The town’s mayor is offering old properties for only 1 euro (about a buck-and-a-half), provided the new owners restore them to their original characteristics within 2 years.

TODAY’S SHOW BIZ SKED:
• “Canadian Idol” (CTV) – The 2-hour 6th-season finalé features performances by Hedely, John Legend, Mariah Carey, LAST YEAR’s champ Brian Melo, and “Idol” mentor Jully Black. THIS YEAR’s winner is announced: Will it be Mitch MacDonald or Theo Tams?
• “CMA Awards“ – THIS MORNING Rascal Flatts & Taylor Swift (on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America”) and James Otto & Lady Antebellum (on “CMT Insider”) announce the nominees for the 42nd annual awards, to be handed out NOVEMBER 12th.
• “Ellen DeGeneres Show” (syndicated/CityTV) – Country duo Sugarland is on.
• Janet Jackson – Her “Rock With U” arena tour kicks off in Vancouver. It’s her first full tour since 2002.
• “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC) – Beyoncé’s sis’ Solange performs. (Who also seems to go by one name now.)
• “Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson” (CBS) – Geezer rocker Alice Cooper is the guest.
• “Late Night With Conan O’Brien” (NBC) – Gym Class Heroes is the musical guest.
• “Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC) – 1970s soul man Al Green is onstage.
• “The View” (ABC) – Natalie Cole sits down with the panel.

BS CUTTING-EDGE VOCAB:
New terms leaking into the lingo …
• ‘Booster’ – A shoplifter, especially a professional shoplifter. (“Amanda had planned to pay her way through medical school as a booster but once she saw how much she could get for stolen Gucci bags, she decided a doctor’s salary was way too low.”)
• ‘Shipper’ – A fan who’s totally preoccupied with a romance in a work of fiction. (“When Jim and Pam finally hooked up on ‘The Office’, [co-host] was in shipper paradise.”)
• ‘Stink-pot’ – An extremely unpleasant person. (“My brother was such a stink-pot growing up, he told on me for drinking dad’s beer which was so not true. I only stole his Scotch!”)

ALL DOLLED UP:
Action figures have gone on sale of Sarah Palin, John McCain’s presidential running mate. Toy company Herobuilders is marketing 3 versions of the 12-inch dolls – ‘Sarah Palin the Executive’, dressed in a formal business suit; ‘Sarah Palin the Super Hero’, in a long black coat, white mini-skirt, with a revolver strapped to one thigh; and ‘Sarah Palin School Girl’, inexplicably attired in a school uniform. (The Republican ticket ought to dump McCain … she’s the star!)
NET: http://www.herobuilders.com/08.htm
– Ananova News Service

CONSTANT CRAVING:
Craving a certain food is not a signal that your body ‘needs’ a specific nutrient, according to New York nutritionist Joy Bauer. Scientific study has proven that cravings are more driven by emotions and psychology. Often we crave foods we enjoy and associate with pleasurable times. For example, you might crave a burger because you love the taste or because you have happy memories of family barbecues, but NOT because you’re deficient in protein or iron. (Except chocolate, right? Chocolate is a requirement.)
– “Parade Magazine”

YOU COULDN’T MAKE THIS STUFF UP:
• In California, a 22-year-old burglar has been arrested after breaking into a home near Fresno, where he rubbed spices on one sleeping man’s body then beat another about the head & face with … an 8-inch sausage. The perp was easy to track down as he left behind his wallet containing ID when he fled wearing only a T-shirt, boxer shorts, and socks. On the way out he dropped the sausage which was subsequently eaten by a dog. (Yup, the dog ate the weapon.)
– “Fresno Bee”
• In South Africa, a Pretoria family has had to fork out over $700 in medical expenses after their dog swallowed … a cellphone. The 11-year-old Doberman-Great Dane mix named ‘Nero’ snatched the phone from its owner and swallowed it whole. An operation at the local animal clinic successfully removed the phone the following day. The dog’s fine … the cellphone had to be trashed. (Is he wagging his tail or is the phone just set on vibrate?)
– “Daily Telegraph“

SIMULATED SKYLIGHT:
Now you can create the the illusion of a real sky on your ceiling. A California company called Sky Factory is now marketing ‘Luminous SkyCeilings’, virtual skylights featuring the same type of intense lighting used to Treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. There are even programmable models that display changing colors and patterns, such as drifting clouds or the setting Sun. The downside … at over $100 a sq ft, it’s likely cheaper to install a real skylight. (Unless you’re on the 3rd floor of a 20-story condo.)
NET: http://www.theskyfactory.com
– “San Francisco Chronicle”

DULLEST MOVIES OF ALL-TIME:
A new ranking of the best bets to rent if you’re an insomniac …
5. “Dune” (1984)
4. “The Sheltering Sky” (1990)
3. “Eyes Wide Shut” (1999)
2. “Die Another Day” (2002)
1. “The Thin Red Line” (1998)
– HecklerSpray.com

THE SIGNS OF STRESS:
Is a co-worker showing signs of being stressed out? Columbia University sociologist Elizabeth Bernstein says the most significant warning signs are shifts in behavior, such as a change in work patterns, eating habits, or drinking. Stressed out people often show up late, appear despondent, withdrawn or abrasive, and can seem increasingly annoyed. (Speaking of our sales department …)
– “ Wall Street Journal”

IZ HEE FOUR REEL?
John Wells, Emeritus Professor of Phonetics at University College London and president of the Spelling Society says teaching children correct spelling is a waste of time. He’s calling for a ‘freeing up’ of English spelling which would include scrapping the apostrophe. Wells suggests we forget about traditional spelling because the informal language of texts, emails, and chat rooms is the ‘way forward’. (That lame idea has us rotfl.)  
– “Times of London”

FISH FOOD:
Gene Hathorn, a Huntsville TX convict who’s been on death row since 1985, has given consent for Danish artist Marco Evaristti to use his body as an art installation after his execution. The avant garde artist plans to deep-freeze the body and then make it into … fish food. Visitors an ensuing exhibition will then be encouraged to feed goldfish with it. He intends the ‘artwork’ to form part of his wider project against capital punishment, which has included designing clothes for prisoners to wear on their execution day.
– “The Guardian”

BS SHOCKING FACT:
The cost of the average meal when dining out in London UK is now about $75, more than twice that of New York City.
– “Zagat Restaurant Guide”

BS CHRONOMETER 09.10.08
TODAY’S CELEBIRTHDAYS . . .
1949 [59] Bill O’Reilly, NYC, TV personality (“The O’Reilly Factor”)/syndicated talk radio personality (“The Radio Factor”)

1950 [58] Joe Perry, Lawrence MA, rock guitarist (Aerosmith-“I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing”, “Dream On”)

1960 [48] Colin Firth, Grayshott UK, movie actor (“Mamma Mia!”, “Bridget Jones’ Diary”)

1968 [40] Guy Ritchie, Hatfield UK, movie director (“RocknRolla”, “Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels”)/Mr Madonna since 2000/birth-father of 7-year-old Rocco  FACTOID: He says he has no plans to celebrate his 40th despite throwing a lavish party for Madonna’s 50th just LAST MONTH.

1974 [34] Ryan Phillippe (FIL-uh-pee), New Castle DE, movie actor (“Flags of Our Fathers”, “Crash”)/ex-Mr Reese Witherspoon (1999-2007)

1980 [28] Mikey Way, Belleville NJ, alt-rock bassist (My Chemical Romance-“Famous Last Words”, “Welcome to the Black Parade”)/younger brother of frontman Gerard Way

1982 [26] Travis Rice, Jackson Hole WY, one of the world’s top snowboarders

1983 [25] Joey Votto, Toronto ON MLB player (1st base-Cincinnati Reds)

1988 [20] Jordan Staal, Thunder Bay ON, NHL center (Pittsburgh Penguins)

BS REASONS TO PARTY . . .
• “Swap Ideas Day”, set aside to encourage us to collaborate on creative thinking and new solutions to old problems. (So your co-workers can take all the credit.)

• “Teacher’s Day” in China, when students show their appreciation by presenting gifts such as cards and flowers.

• “World Suicide Prevention Day”, the 4th annual declared by the International Association for Suicide Prevention. The idea is to raise awareness of one of our biggest killers.

THIS DAY IN SHOW BIZ . . .
1958 [50] A chemical manufacturer announces it will unleash its pungent ‘Aroma-rama’ and ‘Smell-o-Vision’ technologies on movie theaters (fortunately, most theater-goers think the idea stinks)

1998 [10] Long-running TV sitcom about nothing, “Seinfeld” (NBC), has its final network showing with a repeat of the 2-hour series finalé

TODAY’S MUSIC EVENT . . .
1964 [44] Rod Stewart’s 1st (less-than-successful) recording, “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl”, is released (if he released that nowadays, he’d get arrested!)

TODAY’S FIRST . . .
1897 [111] 1st convicted ‘Drunk Driver’ rams a taxi-cab into a building (George Smith, London UK)

TODAY’S RECORD . . .
1858 [150] John Holden hits baseball’s 1st recorded ‘Home Run’, for Brooklyn vs NY

1967 [41] Denver Broncos gain a total of minus-5 yards against the Oakland Raiders, a pro football record for futility

AND REMEMBER . . .
[Thurs] 9/11 Remembrance Day
[Thurs] I Want to Start My Own Business Day
[Thurs] No News is Good News Day
[Fri] Video Game Day
[Fri] Chocolate Milkshake Day
[Fri] Day of Conception (Russia)
[Fri] “Burn After Reading”; “The Family That Preys”; “Righteous Kill”; and “The Women” open in movie theaters
This Week Is … Housekeepers Week
This Month Is … Organic Harvest Month

BULL’S BITS
DID YOU EVER WONDER?
• Whyzit TV reporters feel the need to risk injury (or more) by running outside during a dangerous storm to report on it? No one covers a house fire by rushing into the burning building.
• Whyzit even the busiest people are never too busy to tell you just how busy they are?
• Whyzit we refer to dogs as ‘bitches’ when cats fit the description so much better?
• Whyzit when you park under power lines birds crap all over your car but you never see any on the street?
• Whyzit women tolerate being called ‘you guys’ when men would never go for ‘you girls’?
• Whyzit spouses always take their half of the bed out of the middle?

PARENTAL CHANGES SINCE KIDS HAVE GONE BACK TO SCHOOL:
• You can play an online “Halo 3“ match during the day … and win!
• Daytime grammar/spelling quality on the Internet has increased 10-fold.
• Don’t have to share the Legos any more.
– BBSpot.com

BS PHONE STARTER:
You can go back in time and prevent a great catastrophe. Which one would you prevent?

BS RANDOM JOKE:
I almost had a psychic girlfriend but she left me before we met.

BS WATER COOLER QUESTION:
Today’s Question: Age 28 seems to be the magic number when women start worrying about THIS.
Answer to Give Out Tomorrow: Losing their looks.

BS DEEP THOUGHT:
The wise talk because they have something to say. Fools talk because they have to say
something.