Thursday - 2/9/12 

'A Different Kind Of Truth' could debut at #1. Original Black Sabbath drummer's son defends his father. 'Bradying'. Office meetings make people stupider. Birth month to blame for mood swings. Relationship stats. Alternate use for bras.

VAN HALEN

Van Halen's first album in 14 years, A Different Kind Of Truth, could debut at Number One on next week's Billboard album chart. According to Hits Daily Double, one-day sales reports compiled after the set arrived in stores on Tuesday (February 7th) indicate that it is likely to sell between 180,000 and 200,000 copies in its first week of release. That could be good enough to topple Adele from the Number One perch where she's been residing for the past few weeks.  

A Different Kind Of Truth is the band's first full-length offering with original singer David Lee Roth since 1984 was released on the very last day of 1983.

Van Halen's last all-new album, 1998's Van Halen III, debuted at Number Four on the Billboard chart and was certified gold for sales of 500,000 copies, a disappointment compared to their previous platinum efforts.

BLACK SABBATH

Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward's son Aron has gone online to defend his father, who announced two weeks ago that he could not participate in the planned reunion of the band's founding lineup without what he called a "signable" contract. In a lengthy message posted at Facebook, Aron wrote in part, "The press is spinning this s***storm to read as if my dad has quit. This is not true. The guys know that. That's why they said the door is ALWAYS open. My dad hasn't 'declined' playing with Black Sabbath or 'threatened' to pull out of this reunion."

Addressing accusations that his father is being "greedy," Aron wrote, "He is by no means greedy, man. If he was, he would have settled with whatever contract given him. It's kind of obvious someone else is greedy . . . sadly, the current 'Sabbath' statement reads as if someone would rather see the remaining members play in front of thousands of disappointed, confused and resentful fans then give my dad a dignified agreement."

After defending his father against the "idiots slagging off my dad" -- presumably fans not taking his side -- Aron concluded with a message to Sabbath members Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Terry "Geezer" Butler, writing, "To Terry (my godfather), Ozzy (my friend when I was little) and Tony (towering hero), I hope that you will listen to your fans. They want all of you together. As YOU are Black Sabbath so is my Dad. I hope you guys can work it out."

The other three members of Sabbath have already announced that they will move forward without Ward, with Ozzy's solo band drummer Tommy Clufetos reportedly already in the studio with them.

The reunion of the original lineup was announced last November, along with a new album and tour. Iommi's current battle with cancer has put prospects for a full world tour in question at this point.

AFTER PATRIOTS' SUPER BOWL LOSS, 'BRADYING' BECOMES NEW INTERNET FAD

 A new Internet fad in the mold of "Tebowing" has sprung up in the wake of the New England Patriots' Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants called "Bradying," named after Pats quarterback Tom Brady. People doing this are shown sitting on the floor with their legs stretched out, hands folded between their legs and head bowed, in imitation of the dejected image of Brady sitting on the field after his team's loss on Sunday. A website dedicated to "Bradying" is helping spread the fad.

Bradying

OFFICE MEETINGS MAKE PEOPLE STUPIDER

 Meetings don't just eat up time in the workplace -- new research found that they actually make groups of people stupider. Working in a group makes people perform worse on intelligence tests, as some group members are so anxious about doing well that they 'divert' their brain power towards maintaining their social status in the group. 'You may joke about how committee meetings make you feel brain dead, but our findings suggest that they may make you act brain dead as well,' said Read Montague the study leader at Virginia Tech. Groups of volunteers showed measurable drops in IQ when asked to perform intelligence tests socially, with the results broadcast to the group. (Daily Mail)

BIRTH MONTH TO BLAME FOR MOOD SWINGS

 Seasonal affective disorder has been linked to how much sunlight a baby is exposed to in the days following birth. Teenage mood swings are usually blamed on hormonal changes, relationship problems or simple contempt for overbearing parents. But it turns out grumpy teens may actually be programmed from birth. Researchers found teenagers born in the spring or summer are more likely to suffer the 'winter blues' than those born in the colder months of autumn or winter. The reason, scientists say, may be something to do with the way exposure to natural light in the very early days of life programs the nervous system. (UPI)

SURPRISING RELATIONSHIP STATS FROM MATCH.COM

• 55 percent (66 percent of men and 44 percent of women) say they have had sex on the first date.
• 58 percent of singles say they have had a one-night stand (65 percent of men and 51 percent of women).
• 27 percent say they don't want to get married at all.
• 44 percent have never cheated or been cheated on by a partner. But the 36 percent who have say it was their partner who was unfaithful. 8 percent admit they were the ones who cheated.
• 60 percent said it was "more unacceptable" if their partner had a series of one-night stands rather than a three-month affair with one person; 40 percent said a three-month affair was worse.

ALTERNATE USES FOR BRAS (CollegeCandy.com)

1. Slingshot: Since we're all obsessed with Angry Birds, why not make a bra into a slingshot to play the game in real life? Perfect for snowball fights/water balloon fights/annoying your neighbors, etc.

2. Snack holder: I feel as though a C-cup might be the regular serving size for any type of snack food (don't quote me on that). So the next time you've got the munchies, just pour some popcorn into the cups of your bra and much away!

3. Eyemask: If you're like me, the sun is not your friend (especially when trying to get some sleep), when burying your head in a pillow becomes too suffocating, just throw a bra over your eyes and let the cups cover up those rays streaming through your window.

4. Artwork: Use your old bras you never wear anymore and make a piece of art out of it. They have weirder stuff on display at any contemporary art museum than this, so don't feel like an amateur. You could be the next Pollack!

5. Earmuffs: It's wintertime, so turn your bra into earmuffs! The weather these days is so unpredictable so next time you walk into class and it's 50 degrees and walk out to a blizzard, just unclasp your bra and put it over your head to keep those ears warm!

Thanks for listening to The Eagle while you work. Keep it fabulous, Houston!

xoxo,

Jennifer Tyler

Fabulous Mid-day Diva