• When author Judy Blume handed in the manuscript for Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, it didn’t have a title. A typist in the publisher’s office filled in the title space with the opening line of the young people’s novel, and that became the title. Judy’s young daughter, Randy, came up with the title of another book: Freckle Juice. Randy used to play in the bathtub, making a mess with powder, shampoo, and soap — a mixture that she called, yes, freckle juice. The title for Just as Long as We’re Together came from creative problem-solving. Ms. Blume and her agent, Claire Smith, couldn’t think of a title, so they started singing old campfire songs. The title for the book comes from a line in the song “Side by Side.”
• James M. Cain gave two explanations for the title of his novel The Postman Always Rings Twice. According to one explanation, he had an arrangement that his postman would ring twice if he were bringing bills. According to the other explanation, the arrangement was that the postman would ring twice if he were bringing a rejection letter from a publisher. Mr. Cain was rejected so often that he got used to hearing the postman ring twice every day. One day, the postman rang only once, and handed Mr. Cain a letter that said his novel had been accepted for publication. Mr. Cain was so happy that he named his novel after the postman.
• When children’s author Jane Yolen and her family moved to a farm in western Massachusetts, she wanted to name it Fe-Fi-Fo-Farm, but her husband vetoed the idea, and they called it Phoenix Farm instead. However, their children had a wonderful idea: They wanted her to write about a giants’ farm. She did, and Tomie de Paola illustrated the book — which was titled, of course, The Giants’ Farm.
Travel
• Children’s book author Jean Fritz works hard to write at least one book per year, but she also takes three weeks off each winter to go to a Caribbean island called Virgin Gorda. Of course, this often necessitates leaving an unfinished manuscript at her home. Because she worries about such tragedies as her house burning down while she is on vacation, she places her unfinished manuscript in the very safest place that she can think of — her refrigerator.
• When Yoshiko Uchida, author of Journey to Topaz, was a little girl, she and her family sailed to Japan to visit relatives. Unfortunately, almost everyone in her family, including herself, got seasick, and so it was several days before they ventured out of their cabin to eat with the other passengers. The waiters who served their tables were so happy to have a full table of people to wait on that they applauded.
Work
• Studs Terkel knows his history, and he uses it in arguments. Because he lives in Chicago, he never learned how to drive; after all, buses go everywhere he needs to go in Chicago. At the bus stop one day, he saw a middle-class couple: a man and a woman. She was beautiful, wore Neiman-Marcus clothing, and carried Vanity Fair. He wore Gucci shoes and had a copy of The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Terkel talks to all kinds of people, and he spoke to this couple. He said to them, “Tomorrow is Labor Day: the holiday to ‘honor the unions.’” This couple’s attitude toward what he says showed that they don’t like unions. Mr. Terkel asked, “How many hours do you work a day?” The man replied that he works eight hours per day. Mr. Terkel asked, “How come you don't work 18 hours a day, like your great-grandparents?” The man didn’t know his history, so he couldn’t answer the question. Mr. Terkel does know his history, and he answered his own question: “Because four men got hanged for you.” Mr. Terkel told the man that he is referring to the 1886 Haymarket Affair, in which four men ended up being hung. Mr. Terkel then asked, “'How many days a week do you work?” The man’s answer is five days a week. Mr. Terkel said, “Five — oh, really? How come you don’t work six and a half?” The man didn’t know his history, so he couldn’t answer the question. Mr. Terkel does know his history, and he answered his own question: “'Because of the Memorial Day Massacre. These battles were fought, all for you.” He then informed the man about the 1937 massacre of workers in Chicago. The bus came then, and the history lesson ended — much to the couple’s relief.
Known as Basuritas [Trashlings] in Latin America, Sgorbions [Snotlings] in Italy and Die total kaputten Kids [The Totally Broken Kids] in Germany, this series of sticker trading cards produced by the Topps Company was originally released in 1985. Designed to parody the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, what is the name of this trading card fad?
Following the title line of Electric Light Orchestra's highest-charting hit in the United States to date, the name "Bruce" is commonly misheard. What is the title of this 1979 ELO hit?
"Don't Bring Me Down" is the ninth and final track on the English rock band the Electric Light Orchestra's 1979 album Discovery. It is their highest-charting hit in the United States to date.
A common mondegreen in the song is the perception that, following the title line, Lynne shouts "Bruce!" In the liner notes of the ELO compilation Flashback and elsewhere, Lynne has explained that he is singing a made-up word, "Grooss", which some have suggested sounds like the German expression "Gruß," meaning "greetings." Lynne has explained that originally he did not realize the meaning of the syllable, and he just used it as a temporary placekeeper to fill a gap in the lyrics, but upon learning the German meaning he decided to leave it in. After the song's release, so many people had misinterpreted the word as "Bruce" that Lynne actually began to sing the word as "Bruce" for fun at live shows.
ELO engineer Reinhold Mack remembers the genesis of the term differently, stating that Lynne was actually singing "Bruce" as a joke in advance of an Australian tour "referring to how many Australian guys are called Bruce."
Source
'Don't Bring Me Down' came on the radio while driving to the grocery store, and figured there might be a 'Bruce-related' trivia question, but in digging around found I'd been mis-hearing the lyrics for a few decades. And that's how trivia questions are born.
Mark. was first, and correct, with:
Don't Bring Me Down.
zorch responded:
“Don’t Bring Me Down.” The word they say is groos. Bruce makes more sense.
Daniel in The City replied:
Don’t Bring Me Down. I thought it was “Bruce” until 5 minutes ago.
Jim from CA, retired to ID, said:
The word is "Grooss" from Don't Bring Me Down
Randall wrote:
Don't Bring Me Down
Billy in Cypress answered:
"Don't Bring Me Down"
Dave responded:
Don’t Bring Me Down.
DJ Useo replied:
"Don't Let Me Down". Originally, I was not into this song, but over the ensuing years, I got to really like it.
However, I prefer it about 15% faster. Try it yourself.
Jacqueline said:
"Don't bring me down, groos"
Joe ( -- Vote Blue, No Matter Who -- ) answered:
ELO was one of Carla's favorite groups, probably only surpassed by Pink Ffloyd, so I heard a lot from ELO. But to be honest I never heard the name "Bruce" in the song "Don't Bring Me Down." My best friend at that time was named Bruce too.
mj took the day off.
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BttbBob has returned to semi-retired status.
~~~~~
Album: A Tribute to Futureman Records Tributes (Big Stir Single No. 107.5) — a two-track single
Artist: The Yes It Is
Record Company: Big Stir Records
Record Company Location: Burbank, California
Info: “Senses Working Overtime” is a cover of an XTC song.
“Big Stir Records presents the finest music from the global pop rock scene on CD, vinyl and digital downloads. Based in California and featuring artists from the US, UK, Sweden, and Germany, BSR also curates a weekly Digital Singles Series, hosts live shows in the US and UK, and publishes Big Stir Magazine. Pop outside the box with Big Stir!”
Price: $1 (USD) for track; $1 (USD) for two-track single
Another afternoon at the laundromat-of-the-darned.
Tonight, Thursday:
CBS opens the night with a RERUN'Young Sheldon', followed by a RERUN'B Positive', then a RERUN'Mom', followed by another RERUN'Mom', then a FRESH'Star Trek: Discovery'.
Scheduled on a FRESHStephen Colbert are James Corden and Fleet Foxes.
Scheduled on a FRESHJames Corden, OBE, are Andrew Rannells and Megan Thee Stallion.
NBC begins the night with the FRESH'One Night Only: The Best Of Broadway', followed by the FRESH'Time Person Of The Year'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJimmy Fallon are Bruce Springsteen, J. Balvin, an Mandy Moore.
Scheduled on a FRESHSeth Meyers are Blake Shelton, Jenny Slate, My Morning Jacket, and Kaz Rodriguez.
On a RERUNLilly Singh (from 4/13/20) is Tan France.
ABC starts the night with a FRESH'Station 19', followed by a FRESH'Grey's Anatomy', then a FRESH'A Million Little Things'.
Scheduled on a FRESHJimmy Kimmel are Emily Blunt, Kyle Chandler, and Sturgill Simpson.
The CW fills the night with the FRESH'Silent Night: A Song For The World'.
Faux fills the night with LIVE'Thursday Night Football', then pads the left coast with local crap.
MY recycles anold 'Dateline', followed by an old 'L&O: CI'.
A&E has 3 hours of old 'The First 48', followed by a FRESH'Killer Cases'.
AMC offers the movie 'National Lampoon's Vacation', followed by the movie 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation', then the movie 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation', again.
BBC -
[6:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - HIPPOCRATIC OATH
[7:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - THE VISITOR
[8:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - INDISCRETION
[9:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - REJOINED
[10:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - STARSHIP DOWN
[11:00AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - LITTLE GREEN MEN
[12:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - FACE OF THE ENEMY
[1:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - TAPESTRY
[2:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - BIRTHRIGHT
[3:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - BIRTHRIGHT
[4:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - STARSHIP MINE
[5:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - LESSONS
[6:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - CHAIN OF COMMAND
[7:00PM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - CHAIN OF COMMAND
[8:00PM] TOMMY BOY
[10:15PM] TOMMY BOY
[12:30AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - CHAIN OF COMMAND
[1:30AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - CHAIN OF COMMAND
[2:30AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - STARSHIP MINE
[3:30AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - LESSONS
[4:30AM] STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - THE CHASE
[5:30AM] STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE - STARSHIP DOWN (ALL TIMES ET)
Bravo has 'Southern Charm', followed by a FRESH'Southern Charm', then another FRESH'Southern Charm', followed by a FRESH'Watch What Happens: Live'.
FX has the movie 'Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!', followed by the movie 'Pitch Perfect 3'.
History has 'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion', another 'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion', followed by a FRESH'Swamp People: Serpent Invasion', and another 'Swamp People'.
IFC -
[2:00am] Underworld: Blood Wars
[4:00am - 9:30am] Community
[10:00am - 1:30pm] Parks And Recreation
[2:00pm - 5:30pm] Three's Company
[6:00pm - 12:30am] Two And A Half Men
[1:00am - 3:30am] Parks And Recreation
[4:00am - 5:30am] Community (ALL TIMES ET)
Sundance -
[6:20am - 12:30pm] the andy griffith show
[1:00pm - 1:00am] law & order
[2:00am] hap and leonard: the two-bear mambo - The Two-Bear Mambo
[3:00am] hap and leonard: the two-bear mambo - Ho-Ho Mambo
[4:00am] hap and leonard: the two-bear mambo - T-Bone Mambo
[5:00am] the andy griffith show
[5:30am] the andy griffith show (ALL TIMES ET)
SyFy has the movie 'The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift', followed by the movie 'Fast & Furious'.
TBS:
Scheduled on a FRESHConan is Joe Manganiello.
‘Tis the season to be political activists, at least from the perspective of the main cast members from the classic Christmas film, Elf. They are on board for a livestreamed table read from the film screenplay in support of the Democratic candidates in the crucial Georgia Senate runoff in January.
Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, Bob Newhart, Edward Asner, Mary Steenburgen, Amy Sedaris, Andy Richter, Kyle Gass, John Lithgow, Danny Woodburn, Jon Favreau, Ed Helms, Busy Phillips, and Matt Walsh are participating in the read. Ashley Nicole Black will host.
The 2003 film Elf made $226 million USD at the box office, but has grown in stature through its constant television rotation during the holidays. It tells the tale of Buddy the Elf, played by Will Ferrell, who accidentally winds up at the North Pole. Towering above his fellow elves and a failure at toy making, his adopted status is finally revealed. He decides to head to New York to find his biological father, a high-powered New York publishing executive. Hilarity and sentiment ensues.
The table read event take place on December 13th at 4 PM ET to support Georgia Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in the upcoming Senate runoffs in that state. The runoffs will determine whether Democrats or Republicans will control the US Senate.
Donations will be channeled through Act Blue to the Georgia Democratic Party. The suggested ticket donation price starts at $30.
Nicolas Cage is continuing to lean into television – hosting unscripted comedy series History of Swear Words for Netflix.
The Con Air actor is fronting the show, which explores the origins, pop culture-usage, science and cultural impact of curse words.
It is the latest TV role he has signed up for following a scripted take on Joe Exotic in development at Amazon and voicing the lead in Highfire, which is also at the streamer.
Through interviews with experts in etymology, pop culture, historians and entertainers, the six-episode series dives into the origins of “f*ck”, “sh*t”, “b*tch”, “d*ck”, “pu**y” and “damn.” The show launches January 5.
Produced by Funny or Die and B17 Entertainment, History of Swear Words guest stars include Joel Kim Booster, DeRay Davis, Open Mike Eagle, Nikki Glaser, Patti Harrison, London Hughes, Jim Jefferies, Zainab Johnson, Nick Offerman, Sarah Silverman, Baron Vaughn and Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Howard Stern has criticised Donald Trump (R-Grifter)’s handling of the coronavirus crisis as being “treasonous”.
He was reacting to a call from a listener who identified himself as a critical care physician in Cleveland, Ohio, and shared his “heartbreaking” experience treating patients with coronavirus.
“We are drowning,” the caller said. “We are drowning in work. I get on Facebook and it f****** kills me. You look at all these people who want to pretend that this s*** isn’t real. People want to pretend that they can just go about their normal lives. It’s hard to work every day knowing that we’re drowning.”
The exchange between Stern and the caller eventually addressed Trump’s consistent downplaying of the pandemic, even as Covid-19 has killed more than 280,000 people in the US.
“I don’t even hear a word about [the crisis] from him, except, ‘Just go ahead and live your life in a dangerous way,’” Stern said of Trump. “This is treasonous, what’s going on right now.”
A new David Bowie coin created to commemorate the pioneering singer has been launched into space.
The one ounce silver proof coin, which is being offered as a prize through the Royal Mint’s Facebook page, reached 35,656m and orbited the Earth’s atmosphere for 45 minutes before safely descending.
The coin forms part of a new series launched by the Royal Mint as part of its music legends collection.
Prices begin at £13 for a brilliant uncirculated £5 coin, to a stratospheric £72,195 for a UK kilo gold coin in a denomination of £1,000, a maximum of 11 of which will be minted.
A five ounce Bowie gold coin is also available for £11,815, with a maximum mintage of 60 coins.
Rep. Katie Porter (D-Single Mom Goddess) launched a blistering attack on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Grim Reaper) on Twitter on Tuesday, slamming his insistence in COVID-19 stimulus negotiations on corporate liability protections.
"Everyone at the negotiating table-including Senate Rs-has agreed to a compromise. Except one," she wrote in a Twitter thread, which as of Wednesday had been shared more than 50,000 times.
"Mitch McConnell is refusing to bring it to the floor unless it wipes away all COVID-related lawsuits filed that 'allege injury or death' due to corporate negligence," she wrote.
"These lawsuits represent the worst of the worst examples of disregard for human life," she added.
McConnell has long described liability protections as a red line in his negotiations, saying they would protect businesses from "frivolous" lawsuits from employees and would give businesses confidence in reopening.
All of the Amazon's splendid greenery. Every fish in the Pacific. Every microbe underfoot. Every elephant on the plains, every flower, fungus, and fruit-fly in the fields, no longer outweighs the sheer amount of stuff humans have made.
Estimates on the total mass of human-made material suggest 2020 is the year we overtake the combined dry weight of every living thing on Earth.
Go back to a time before humans first took to ploughing fields and tending livestock, and you'd find our planet was coated in a biosphere that weighed around 2 x 10^12 tonnes.
Thanks in no small part to our habit of farming, mining, and building highways where forests once grew, this figure has now halved.
The exact timing of this landmark event depends on how we define the exact point a chunk of rock or drop of crude oil changes from natural resource to manufactured item.
Wang Liutai is no ordinary kung fu master. The 65-year-old from a village in central China practises a unique and excruciating-looking strand of martial arts coined "iron crotch kung fu".
Its most famous technique involves a steel-plate capped log, 2 metres (6.5 feet) in length and weighing 40 kilograms (88 pounds) that swings through the air and smashes into a man's crotch.
"When you practise iron crotch kung fu, as long as you push yourself, you will feel great," said Wang, head of the Juntun Martial Arts Academy.
Wang, who has been practising the technique for around half a century and has two children, insists that with the correct methods and sufficient practice, it does not hurt and has no effect on fertility.
The iron crotch, mastery of which is gained by taking hits to the body's weakest points while using qigong breathing techniques to inure oneself, is just one element of the branch of Tongbeiquan kung fu that has been practised in Wang's village for the past 300 years. The style encompasses scores of attack techniques as well as resisting pressure, pain or hits to other sensitive areas.
Sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do, and for Asian honey bees (Apis cerana), this means gathering feces in their mouthparts and depositing mini-mounds of the stuff near the entrance to their nests.
"We report for the first time the remarkable employment by A. cerana of feces to defend their nests, a behavior that constitutes the first report of honey bees using a tool – a non-plant solid – to deter attack by a dangerous predator,” write the researchers in PLOS One.
To make this beautifully dirty discovery, the researchers monitored the bees over 10 days in Vietnam. Field observations revealed that A. cerana workers collect poop in their mandibles, buzz back with it to their colonies, and apply the clumps as textured spots on the fronts of their hives (called “fecal spotting”).
The team also observed them forage for feces in a nearby chicken coop, collect soap scum and, on one occasion, visit a container of human urine nearby. Another hive was dotted with mysterious bright blue spots that stumped the researchers where it came from.
A survey of 67 beekeepers who kept A. cerana colonies revealed that 63 of them (94%) noticed fecal spots on their hives. The beekeepers had between three and 170 colonies, for an average of 15 colonies each. Spots were reported on 74 percent of the hive fronts.
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