LBN-INVESTIGATES: Are you handy enough that if a lightbulb went out in your home you’d be able to change it? Believe it or not, one in five people aren’t so skilled. In fact, a new survey of people in the United Kingdom finds not only do about 20 percent of people not know how to change a bulb — the same number aren’t sure how to boil an egg, either. TheBritish insurance company Aviva recently released their annual Home Report which detailed, among numerous findings about how people do work around the house, relatively common tasks that people encounter. The company surveyed 2004 people across the UK in February and March about their habits and roles at home.A stunning new survey from the United Kingdom found that one in five people did not know how to change a lightbulb or boil an egg. In addition to just one in five not being able to change a lightbulb or boil an egg, the survey found that nearly a third of the participants couldn’t cook any meal on the fly. And if someone were to spill a portion of their meal on their clothes or on the floor, only 59 percent would know how to get rid of the resulting stain. Only 37 percent could change a flat tire.

North Korea has detained an American citizen who intended to fly out of the capital city of Pyongyang on Saturday. It is unclear why the individual, who was identified by the chancellor of the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology as Kim Sang-duk, was detained at the airport. “He was prevented from getting on the flight out of Pyongyang. We don’t comment further on this,” Martina Aberg, the deputy chief of mission at the Swedish embassy in Pyongyang, told CNN. Kim, a professor in his 50s who was teaching accounting at the university, is now the third American being held in the country, which has provoked international ire over its missile tests and development of nuclear weapons.

According to a new poll, 96 percent of Americans who voted for President Donald Trump do not regret their vote, but Trump’s approval rating is still historically low, sitting at 42 percent. The Washington Post-ABC News poll also found that Americans are questioning his temperament and judgment, as well as his honesty and trustworthiness, which sits well below 50 percent. Bright spots for Trump include 53 percent support for the idea that he is a strong leader. Additionally, 67 percent said the Democratic Party, in its role as the opposition party, is out of touch with Americans, while 62 percent said the same about the Republican Party.

DID YOU KNOW?   ***Did you know that LBN is read daily by –    ***12 members of the White House staff   ***In 26 foreign countries in 11 separate time-zones   ***3 Nobel Prize winners   ***Over 100 winners of the Academy Award   *** 41 professors from Harvard University.

French voters are heading to the polls on Sunday in the first round of voting in this year’s presidential election, amidheightened security following another terror attack in Paris last week that killed a police officer. Around 50,000 police officers and 7,000 soldiers were being used at polling places nationwide. The top two finishers in Sunday’s vote will head to a runoff. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is expected to advance to the runoff, with centrist Emmanuel Macron, conservativeFrancois Fillon, and far-left Jean-Luc Melenchon vying for the second spot. President Donald Trump tacitly backed Le Pen last week in an interview with the Associated Press, calling her the “strongest” candidate. On Sunday morning, Trump tweeted: “Very interesting election currently taking place in France.”

LBN-INVESTIGATES: Nicotine patches and even melatonin (an over-the-counter sleep aid) are reported to increase the vividness of dreams and nightmares. The nicotine patch in particular is said to intensify dreams.

THINK FREELY – READ LBN:

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will be holding a “BIG” rally in Pennsylvania next Saturday night, in a bid likely to provide counter-programming for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Saturday also marks the 100^th day of his presidency, and Trump is expected to tout his administration. The president announced in February that he would not be attending this year’s correspondents dinner, and White House staff followed suit, in a move that underscored the heightened tensions between the press and the new administration. Jeff Mason, a Reuters reporter and the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, said journalists are looking forward to “celebrating the First Amendment” at the dinner on Saturday.

LBN-HOLLYWOOD INSIDER:   ***“Mean Streets” producer-turned-USC Annenberg Innovation Lab director Jonathan Taplin warned filmmakers and media moguls that pop culture won’t sustain in the era of YouTube   unless the site “takes control” of what’s being posted. “The current music business is that 80 percent of the revenue comes from 1 percent of the product. So Jay Z, Taylor Swift, Beyoncé are doing great,” he told a crowd including Ron Howard, Ethan Coen and Tom Freston. Taplin added at an event for his book, “Move Fast and Break Things: How Facebook, Google, and Amazon Cornered Culture and Undermined Democracy,” “If you have a million downloads to iTunes, you or a record company would make $900,000. If you have a million streams from YouTube, you would make $900.

LBN-BOOK NEWS:   ***Is Dan Rather angling for sainthood? We’re told that the broadcasting legend — who has set himself up as the moral counterpoint to the Trump administration — declined a free copy of a book at a book-party, saying, “Thank you, but I insist on buying a book. As an author, I know how important book sales are, so I would never accept a free copy.” We’re told the publicist for Chris Whipple’s “The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency” approached Rather with a free copy at the release of “Eddie Adams: Bigger Than the Frame,” but Rather politely declined.

LBN-MEDIA INSIDER:   ***Bill O’Reilly is making acomeback on Monday with the return of his No Spin News podcast. The former anchor of Fox News Channel’s The O’Reilly Factor announced on his website on Saturday night that the first episode will air on Monday, April 24 at 7p.m ET, exclusive to his subscribers. The podcast will mark the first time Bill O’Reilly has spoken out since releasing a statement on his exit from Fox News after sexual harassment claims led to his show losing over two dozen advertisers. O’Reilly will be paid as much as $25 million (equivalent to one year salary) and called the exit “tremendously disheartening” in a statement.

LBN-VIDEO LINK: The extraordinary revealing TV interview show –   “Without Notes” with M. Zuhdi Jasser M.D. – Episode 1: The Early Years — A revealing interview with M. Zuhdi Jasser M.D., one of America’s most prominent commentators. Born of Syrian refuge parents, Jasser discusses what it truly means to be an American. A fascinating discussion with a unique and brilliant voice.

LBN – SITE OF THE DAY:

“Wolfram|Alpha is more than a search engine. It gives you access to the world’s facts and data and calculates answers across a range of topics, including science, nutrition, history, geography, engineering, mathematics, linguistics, sports, finance, music, and much more.”

LBN-R.I.P.:   ***Erin Moran, the actress best known for playing Joanie Cunningham on the decade-long television classic Happy Days, passed away on Saturday. The 56-year-old was found unresponsive by emergency medical technicians at her home in Indiana on Saturday afternoon. Moran became one of America’s most familiar faces in 1974, playing the “Joanie,” the younger sister of Ron Howard’s “Richie” in the hit sitcom. Moran continued in the role in the spinoff Joanie Loves Chachie, which was cancelled after one season in 1982.

LBN-COMMENTARY by Candida Moss: Jesus was executed in Jerusalem. Early reports suggest that the cross was then broken up and dispersed to major centers of Christianity. An inscription found in North Africa, dating to 359, makes reference to the cross, and Cyril of Jerusalem wrote in 348 that the “whole world” was full of relics of the cross, a statement that suggests the deliberate distribution of relics. In certain cases it seems that the distribution of relics was official and politically motivated: bishops in Jerusalem dispatched pieces to the Pope and the Pope shared them with powerful monarchs. Gifting relics was a way to curry favor with one’s allies. In other cases people stole relics on the sly. In her late fourth century travel journal, a wealthy pilgrim named Egeria reports that when pieces of the cross were venerated during the Good Friday service in Jerusalem, deacons would be stationed nearby to ensure that people didn’t bite pieces off. This had apparently happened in the past and seems to have continued at least as late as the medieval period. According to the 12^th century History of the Counts of Anjou, Fulk Nerra of Anjou bit off a piece of the cross relic when he was in Jerusalem on a pilgrimage in the early 11^th century. He then returned it to France where, according to tradition, they were entrusted to the monks at the abbey of Beaulieu.

LBN-COMMENTARY by Judith Regan: More than 2 million millennials aren’t in school or working — and most are white and male.

LBN-SPOTLIGHT: Before you call a “geek”, please call David Slon at DataTamer at 310-788-3480.  Unlike someone who is enamored with technology, we are interested in making your business prosper.  We understand what it is like to meet a payroll.  At DataTamer, we will always recommend the most cost-effective solutions for you.  We realize that sometimes that does not mean purchasing new equipment but rather using the equipment and software you have already purchased more effectively. DataTamer is winner of the “Best of Los Angeles Award” three (3) years in a row. —- 

LBN COMMENTARY by Larry Grobel (Author): Sandy Gallin was a friend of mine and I was saddened to hear of his passing. He was one of the more remarkable characters who managed to shape the careers of people like Cher, JoanRivers, Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Mac Davis, and dozens of others. He also had an incredible knack of building and furnishing unique houses for himself and for others, like Marvin Hamlisch, Kenny G, John Forsyth, Mark Burnett, Irving Azoff, and the CEO of Herbal Life.  Frank Sinatra saw his house in Beverly Hills and asked to see Sandy’s hands.  Sandy put out his hands. Sinatra told him to turn them over.  Then Sinatra said, “See that candlestick? See that wood sculpture? See those books? See the water? Sandy, one thing taken out of the house and those ten fingers are going to be broken.”  Sandy laughed when he told me this story. “Frank was kidding,” he said, “but he wanted to make it clear that he was buying the house, linens, silverware, glasses, candlesticks, fire wood, ash trays, everything.”

LBN-COMMENTARY by Jimmy Fallon: Legal marijuana in South Dakota could help boost funding for teachers. And teachers said, “Well, screw the money. Just give us the weed.”

LBN-A DIFFERENT VIEW:…..

LBN-OVERHEARD:   ***Mel B‘s former nanny has fired back after the singer accused her and estranged husband Stephen Belafonte of extortion and claims she had a sexual relationship with her for seven years. The America’s Got Talent judge and Spice Girls singer filed for divorce from him last month after 10 years of marriage. They then began a custody battle. Mel B has three daughters, including one with Stephen. Earlier this month, Mel obtained temporary restraining orders against both her husband and the couple’s former nanny, Lorraine Gilles. Mel accused Stephen of threatening to release sex tapes and Lorraine of aiding him. She also accused him of impregnating the nanny.   ***A home once owned by Elvis Presley in the 1950s as he was skyrocketing to fame was damaged by fire Saturday. The Commercial Appeal reports the Memphis home was unoccupied and undergoing renovations. Memphis Fire Lt. Wayne Cooke didn’t have a damage estimate. He says the electrical fire started in the wall between the living room and dining room. He says firefighters responded just after 7:30 a.m. CDT and the fire was under control about 20 minutes later.