Dick Reeves Morning Show

2010-08-04T11:03:00.000-04:00

My garden sunflower has a visitor . . .

Taken 08-04-2010

Wednesday February 23, 2010

2010-02-24T11:29:00.003-05:00

The 1420 WACK 5-DAY FORECAST

Today – it looks like we’ll see some snow, with an accumulation of an inch or less. Today’s high will be in the mid 30’s.
Tonight – more snow likely with an accumulation of around an inch or so possible. We will have an overnight low tonight in the upper 20’s.
Tomorrow – the snow is supposed to begin to fall in earnest through the day with a high tomorrow in the lower 30’s. Winds will start to increase tomorrow to between 15 and 25 mph. It is supposed to snow overnight Thursday night and continue into Friday.
Friday – they are calling for a 100% chance for more snow with a high in the mid 30’s.
Saturday – there’s currently an 80% chance for snow and a Saturday high in the lower 30’s.
Sunday – is calling for some sun and cloud and a 50% chance for more snow. Sunday’s high is supposed to be in nthe lower 30’s.

TOPICALITY
Love Handles Saved Her Life
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) - A Florida woman said her love handles saved her life when she was shot entering an Atlantic City bar. Samantha Lynn Frazier said she heard two pops when she walked into Herman's Place early Saturday. The 35-year-old then felt pain and saw blood on her hand after she grabbed her left side. Atlantic City police said Frazier was an innocent bystander.
Detective Lt. Charles Love said the gunman was aiming for a man who escaped with a bullet hole in his down jacket.
The suspect remains at large.
Frazier told The Press of Atlantic City she had been "hollering" how she wanted to lose weight. She now said "I want to be as big as I can if it's going to stop a bullet."

Flying Spaniel Survives 300’ Fall Off a Cliff (Lucky Dog story)
LONDON (AP) - British rescuers say a dog that chased a seagull and fell off a 300-foot (90-meter) cliff into the sea has survived with only minor injuries.
Paul Legendre of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution search and rescue service says the springer spaniel was rescued Feb. 14 after it darted off southern England's scenic Seven Sisters chalk cliffs.
Legendre says the spaniel fell straight into the sea but there was just enough water to cushion the fall.
He says the owners sought help after they went to the edge of the cliff and saw their pet swim to shore.
"They heard it barking as well, bless it," Legendre said Tuesday.
He said the spaniel suffered a shock and a partially collapsed lung but looked in good shape.

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
• Charlie Sheen's publicist says the actor has entered rehab and is taking a break from the hit CBS show "Two and a Half Men." Publicist Stan Rosenfield wrote in a statement Tuesday that Sheen has voluntarily entered rehab for an unspecified reason and is seeking privacy. The move comes roughly two months after Sheen's arrest in Colorado after being accused of holding a knife to his wife's throat and threatening to kill her. Sheen faces a felony domestic violence charge in the case.
• The professional wrestler known as The Undertaker got minor burns on his chest and a scare during a pyrotechnics mishap. World Wrestling Entertainment spokesman said Tuesday that the wrestler, whose real name is Mark Calaway, is fine. In fact, he wrestled after being burned Sunday night during a live pay-per-view event at the Scottrade Center and was back in the ring for WWE's "Raw" show on Monday.
• Leona Lewis says she's dropped two dress sizes, thanks to a detox diet she's been on.
• Famous hospital guests include Dick Cheney and Bob Dole -- Dick for chest pains, Bob for pneumonia.
• Meanwhile, Placido Domingo is going to undergo "preventive surgery" after suffering severe abdominal pain while performing in Tokyo last week.
• The cast of "Glee" has been invited to perform at the White House Easter Egg roll on April 5.
• The latest American Idol, Kris Allen, is just back from Haiti where he went down to see the devastation for himself and lend a hand.
• Sienna Miller and Jude Law are dating again. Their first time around went from 2003-2005.
• A new bio on President Obama will come out in April and will include excerpts of letters from his mom.
• The Dalai Lama was asked about Tiger Woods and he said that he had never heard of the golfer.
• Allison Iraheta will perform her new single, "Scars," on the first Idol results show of the season tomorrow night.
• Sarah Palin, Lindsey Vonn and Jamie Foxx will be among Jay Leno's guests next week when he returns as host of NBC's "The Tonight Show."
• Getting mixed reports about Whitney Houston down in Australia. Some saying she's disoriented, missing the notes, people walking out... others saying she's doing fine.

THE MORE GENEROUS SIDE OF MEN
Men are often perceived as selfish, but a Men's Health survey shows their more generous side. Two-thirds of American households chip in, donating an average of $2,000 annually. But is cash the best contribution, or is your time more v aluable?

• 52% of men consider themselves equally charitable as the average guy.
• 36% of men spend from 1 to 4 hours a week volunteering.
• 46% of men volunteer to help others.
• 36% of men say they do not volunteer because they are too busy with work.
• 30% of men say they do not volunteer because they have on desire.
• 77% say they would support a community service requirement for high school students.
• 75% say they would not support a mandatory 1 year stint in a civic program for everyone.
• 29% of men think generous women are hot.
• 59% of men think it's a nice bonus if a woman is generous.
• 67% of men would rather have $10,000 donated in their name than win $1,000 for themselves.
• 49% of men think celebrities and athletes donate to charity to boost their images.
• 51% of men think stealing from a charity is worse than stealing from wealthy people or institutions.

Men Wear the Underpants in the Family but The Women Buy Them
Men may wear the underpants in the family but women buy them. According to a major department store, men typically purchase their own underwear for just 17 years of their lives. The rest of the time their mothers, wives or gal pals do the honors. Most guys only buy new underwear when they are about to start a new relationship, says department store rep Rob Faucherand. "You can tell when a man is looking for a partner by the number of new underpants he buys," notes Faucherand. Men tend to buy the most underwear for themselves at age 23 but that goes into a steady decline until bottoming out 10 years later when, presumably, the are in stable enough relationships to have their significant others do it. There's an uptick in underwear buying when guys hit 38, when many are going through breakups. But by age 44, they typically don't have to bother anymore because they've found somebody new. "If a man seldom goes to the underwear department on his own, you can be certain he's in a very stable phase," says Faucherand, who works for the British Debenhams chain and online store. National Examiner)

How Far Do You Have To Drive To Get To Work and Back?
Who listening has the longest commute? I just read about a guy named Michael Hanley who lives in Kansas. He leaves his family and heads to Jamesville, Wisconsin, once a week. The round trip for his drive to work: 1,000 miles round trip- every week! The GM plant he used to work for in Kansas closed, so to keep his health insurance and his awaited pension, he drives to another GM plant in Wisconsin. Would you drive this far to keep your job/benefits/pension? What other choice would you have but to commute 1,000 miles a week?

DRINK UP
According to Men's Health, here's the percentage of Americans who consume these beverages daily:
• 72% bottled water
• 62% soft drinks
• 61% milk
• 61% coffee
• 51% fruit juices
• 31% black tea
• 17% vegetable juices
• 15% green tea
• 14% beer
• 10% cocktails or hard liquor

TOP THREE THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL
1. Have it bronzed
2. Use it to hypnotize people
3. Neener the silver and bronze winners

BIRTHDAYS
In 1786 Author, Wilhelm Karl Grimm (Grimm's Fairy Tales)
In 1885 Admiral Chester Nimitz (in charge of Pacific Fleet during WWII
In 1943 Singer/guitarist/songwriter, George Harrison (Beatles) [d: 11-29-01]
In 1955 Businessman, Steven Jobs (founded Apple Computers) (55)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY IN:
On this date in 1821, Mexico declared independence from Spain. They agreed on joint custody of the language.
In 1903 the United States acquired a naval station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Cuban officials said negotiating the contract was torture. Hmmmmm
On this date in 1938, the very first nylon toothbrushes went on sale. Needless to say, they were much more popular than the wire ones.
On this date in 1981, Buckingham Palace announced the engagement of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer. If you're working on a time machine, that would be a good place for a first stop. I know I could have talked her out of this bone-head move.

Monday July 17th, 2009

2009-08-17T04:04:00.003-04:00

Good Friggin Morning!

"IT'S MONDAY!"

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Archie and Veronica? Who knew?
It may have taken several fans of the Archie comic book series by surprise, but comic book collector Dave Luebke of Dallas was completely outraged to learn that Archie Andrews, the carrot-topped everyman of the comic world, was proposing to va-va-voomy rich girl Veronica instead of girl-next-door Betty! So he's protesting by selling his copy of the 67-year-old series' rare first issue. Luebke's Archie Comics No. 1 sold for $38,837 when Dallas' Heritage Auction Galleries offered it up on Friday. Luebke still has plenty of comics to read -- over a million in his collection -- but says 99 percent of his customers agree that perky, blond Betty is the clear choice over shiny dark-haired Veronica in the seemingly never-ending love triangle. The Archie Comics Web site shows Archie proposing to Veronica on bended knee on the cover of No. 600, which hits comic book stores August 19. That begins a six-issue story that takes place in the future when the perpetual high schoolers have graduated from college. (myway.com)

William Shatner Would Be Proud!
William Shatner would be proud and would say, "Now you're negotiating!" He'd be referring to those people lucky enough to get a romantic weekend at a four-star hotel in near Venice for 1 cent! Not surprisingly, the Crowne Plaza, 15.5 miles from Venice, received bookings for the equivalent of 1,400 room nights on the night the rate was posted on its Web site. Unfortunately the price posted was a big mistake attributed to human error at the Atlanta, Georgia, offices of Intercontinental Hotels Group, the hotel's mother company. The offer was supposed to be for a two-night stay at half price. Typically a room runs between $128 - $214. But the 1-cent rate was up only Sunday night, but that was long enough for travelers to book dates running from October through 2010. The hotel will honor the reservations and as a result, lose about $129,000! (myway.com)

Daddy's Little Girl?
It's not exactly the father-daughter relationship you hope for. In Gainesville, Florida, a 38-year-old father asked his daughter to turn off the computer. He allegedly used racist and sexist terms in his request so she fired back with some colorful language of her own. So he threw a pizza at her and hit her in the back of the neck. So she called the police and Dad was arrested on a charge of child abuse without great harm-- a third-degree felony. The man's name is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim. (Florida Today)
Women Getting Good At Birth Control
Looks like American women and those of other developed countries are getting pretty good at this birth control stuff. They're waiting significantly longer before having children compared to new moms of a generation ago. A new study from the CDC says the average age of first-time mothers in the U.S. jumped from 21.4 in 1970 to 25 in 2006, an increase of 3.6 years. By comparison, the average age at first birth in Switzerland is 29.4 and in Japan is 29.2. Researchers say average age at first birth is important because it influences the total number of children a woman might have as well as the population's size and future growth. (CBS News)

More Good News Chocolate Lovers!
More good news for chocolate lovers! Those who eat chocolate at least twice a week may be 70 percent less likely to die from heart disease than non-chocolate lovers! Dark chocolate's antioxidants called flavonoids, which prevents blood clots, does the trick, according to a study by researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. The study published in Journal of Internal Medicine found that in 1,169 patients aged from 45 to 70 and with a history of heart attack, those who eat chocolate twice a week or more were 66 percent less likely to die from cardiac disease than those who have less chocolate in their diet. Now, let's all go have a hot fudge sundae! (AHN News)

Most Tweets Are Pointless
According to a new study, here's some news that you probably already figured out for yourself if you're a fan of Twitter. It seems that a big percentage of the messages posted on the popular micro-blogging web site are pointless rather than vital information! Who knew? Pear Analytics, a San Antonio-based marketing firm, began its study based on the hypothesis that Twitter is "used predominantly for self-promotion." But of the 27 million users, only 27% of users are on regularly and in fact, only 1% of users contribute to over 35% of all traffic. And according to their survey, over 40% of all tweets are "pointless babble" -- things like "I am eating a sandwich right now." (AHN News)

3-Year-Old Biker Dude!
In New Delhi, three-year-old Azeem Khan has been granted a special motorcycle license by the Indian DMV. Azeem had to prove he could control the powerful Royal Enfield Bullet after his dad added special extensions to the controls so he could reach them. His proud father, Shantanu Khan says of his toddler, "He is much safer than most adult drivers I know." But Azeem, who turns four next month, is not allowed out on the main roads on his own. Dad says, "Of course I won't let him drive on the busy roads without me on the bike as well. I trust Azeem but I don't trust other drivers." And the pint-sized biker already has his sights set on his next set of wheels -- a Harley Davidson -- which is his dream. But then that's every guy's dream right? (Ananova)

Dumbest Bank Robber Ever
Congratulations 34-year-old Jarell Arnold of Anchorage, Alaska -- you are the dumbest bank robber of all time! Mr. Arnold was arrested after he gave a teller his account number and showed her his picture ID before allegedly robbing the bank. After checking his balance, he allegedly handed over a piece of paper with a note saying, "I have a gun. Give me all the money in your drawer." He walked out of the bank with nearly $600 but was arrested after it turned out the account number and picture ID he gave were really his! He's now in custody at the Anchorage jail and faces a federal bank robbery charge. (Anchorage Daily News)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Monday Stuff
• Even though Heidi Montag appears in Playboy's September issue, the pictorial could appear in Maxim since we never really see her naked.
• Former Senator John Edwards is going to admit that he is the father of his former mistress' 18-month-old daughter.
• When Steven Tyler fell off that stage in South Dakota, he broke a shoulder and got 20 stitches. Doctors said he needed to rest, so Aerosmith has canceled their summer tour.
• Only 53%, on average, of entering students at four-year colleges manage to graduate in six years. According to a study by the American Enterprise Institute, Harvard's graduation rate is 97%, while Southern University at New Orleans reported 8%.
• Jerry O'Connell has gone back to school... law school. He's enrolled in L.A. Southwestern Law School and started classes last week.
• Mariah Carey has canceled appearances on the Today Show, VH-1 and MTV, as well as receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, because they were to coincide with the release of her new CD... which has been postponed now until the end of December.
• Rapper Corey "C-Murder" Miller has been sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder after shooting 16-year-old fan Steve Thomas at a now-closed nightclub.
• Best guess is that Jon and Kate's divorce will be finalized at the end of September.
• This fall, Calvin Klein is unveiling his line of Body jeans, which are specially crafted to hug and enhance all of a guy's below the belt curves.
• Natalie Cole says it's been three months since the transplant operation and she feels great with her new kidney.
• There's a push to make Brad Pitt the next mayor of New Orleans... but he's saying "Thanks but no thanks."
• Remember Omarosa from "The Apprentice"? She's scheduled to begin her studies at United Theological Seminary in Dayton today.

National Friendship Week
The type of friends you prefer reveals a lot about your personality, says psychologist Dr. Elayne Kahn, co-author of "1001 Ways You Reveal Your Personality."

• Just one close friend -- You need someone to confide in and trust. You don't trust people very easily, but once you do you're very loyal. You take friendship very seriously and never take your friends for granted.
• Friends of your own sex only -- You enjoy tradition and believe boys should be boys and girls should be girls. You're more comfortable when people are in more traditional roles. You enjoy friends who have something in common with you.
• Friends of the opposite sex only -- You enjoy being the center of attention, but don't like competing for it. Intimacy is very important to you, and you're capable of deep relationships.
• Friends you just party with -- You love to socialize, but don't like people getting too close. You're very independent and want to stay that way - and you especially don't like to become dependent on one person.
• Friends from the workplace -- You love achieving, working hard, making money and always moving ahead. All things in your life - including friendships - are geared toward making your career as successful as possible.
• Different friends for different occasions -- If, for example, you go dancing with one group of friends and play touch football with another, you're well-organized, but don't like to become too involved with people. You're a busy, active person.

BAD HAIR DAYS CAN MEAN BAD MOOD DAYS
Bad hair days can also mean bad mood days. You're not alone. Blame the place you live. TotalBeauty.com ranked cities for all they contribute to bad hair, based on the national averages of humidity/wind/rain/sun, the hardness of the water, pollution levels and even the number of salons in the area ready to do the necessary repair work. Top 10 worst cities for bad hair days:

1. Corpus Christi, TX -- Why? It's hot, humid, has hard water and is home to only a few salons.
2. Olympia, WA -- Why? The days are rainy and the air is humid. And you'll have a hard time finding anyone to even cut your hair since there are only 25 listed hairstylists in the city.
3. Pittsburgh -- Why? It's polluted. Very, very polluted. And pollution has been known to cause premature balding, graying and dullness.
4. Las Vegas -- Why? That desert climate--dry and sunny--will scorch your hair.
5. Phoenix -- Why? It has the nation's most extreme climate and very hard water.
6. Pensacola, FL -- Why? It's one of the wettest cities. Even worse, the salons cater to the retirement crowd--wash, curl, comb-out and lots of hair spray.
7. Fresno, CA -- Why? It's sunny and polluted.
8. Houston -- Why? It's hot, humid and has very hard water.
9. Tucson, AZ -- Why? Too much sun and hard water.
10. New Orleans -- Why? It's humid and wet.

THE TRUTH ABOUT PANTYHOSE
Pantyhose are going the way of the girdle and for many of the same reasons. Sales of the once ubiquitous leg wear are sagging due to women forsaking pumps and dresses for slacks and jeans in the workplace plus the fact that the constricting stockings are just plain uncomfortable. Researchers at Hanes, the leading seller of hosiery in the country, say women between the ages of 25 to 54 now wear pantyhose an average of just 1.8 times a week, down from 3.5 times a week 10 years ago.

WELCOME GESTURES
(Allure) You don't need to initiate strip poker to be the sexiest girl in the room. Body language is a smile way to convey sexiness. "Self-assurance is the key to projecting attractiveness," says Beverly B. Palmer, professor of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills. She suggest:

• Make eye contact -- "A quick glance communicates interest," Palmer says; "a lingering look moves it a step further." In fact, an independent study found that prolonged eye contact is one of the most successful tactics in initiate flirting.
• Touch your clothes -- Adjusting your necklace or smoothing the hemline of your skirt leads the eye to the feminine parts of your body without being vulgar.
• Be on your toes -- At a part, staying on your feet makes you look confident. "Don't allow yourself to be visually lower than everyone else," Palmer advises. "We all pay attention to someone who's higher up."
• Don't be cross -- Crossing your ankles and folding your arms says "stay away." Lean forward while talking, and leave your arms at your sides. "Open posture says you welcome interaction," says Palmer. "People like to feel wanted."

WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO OUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS
Kids are being taught to write on computer keyboards in kindergarten with the result that fewer and fewer can read handwritten material. More than 85% of students now write the essay part of students now write the essay part of the SAT exam in block letters, because they don't know how to write what is called cursive script, in which the letters are joined together. What's more, they don't know how to read it, either. Astonishingly, most teachers don't care that handwriting is becoming a lost art.

A WAY FOR WOMEN TO DIAGNOSE ARTHRITIC KNEE ARTHRITIS
Is your ring finger longer than your index finger? If so, you're up to three times more likely to develop arthritis of the knee than women whose ring fingers are the same length as or shorter than their pointers. The British scientists who discovered the link speculate that it may have to do with hormones. This finger pattern is more common in women with low estrogen levels. (Good Housekeeping)

WHAT MAKES YOU MAD WHEN YOU’RE DRIVING?
Here is the top 5 things that make people mad while driving (from a survey of licensed drivers):

1. No blinker when turning
2. Slow drivers
3. Drivers who cut you off
4. Tailgating
5. Rude drivers

YOUTH DRIVERS
According to a recent survey, Young drivers (ages 18 to 24) reported having engaged most often in distracting activity while driving. Here's what they've been up to while driving:

• 62% eating
• 71% cell phone calls
• 24% sending text messages
• 8% applying makeup
• 8% changing clothes

BIRTHDAYS
In 1786 American frontiersman, Davy Crockett
In 1798 English physician, Thomas Hodgkin (described Hodgkins Disease)
In 1882 Movie producer and industry pioneer, Samuel Goldwyn
In 1892 Actress, Mae West ("Come up and see me sometime")
In 1920 Actress, Maureen O'Hara (Miracle on 34th Street, Gone With the Wind) (89)
In 1943 Actor, Robert De Niro (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Cape Fear) (66)
In 1958 Singer, Belinda Carlisle (Heaven On Earth) (51)
In 1960 Actor, Sean Penn (Carlito's Way, Dead Man Walking, Mystic River) (49)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1896 Gold is discovered at Bonanza Creek in the Yukon.
In 1978 The first successful trans-Atlantic balloon flight ends as Maxie Anderson, Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman land their Double Eagle II in a wheat field outside Paris.

Friday August 14th, 2009

2009-08-14T04:25:00.009-04:00

CELEBRITY GOAT MILKING
I milked this bad girl good, at the local County Fair!
Won the novice division and didn't bring her home after.
"I knew you'd be proud of me!"

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Friday Stuff
• Guitar innovator and inventor Les Paul died Thursday. He was 94.
• Anna Faris married actor Chris Pratt in Bali on July 9th.
• Brad Pitt and Ashton Kutcher will be guests on tonight's "Real Time With Bill Maher" on HBO at 10pm.
• Britney's kids -- Sean Preston, 3, and Jayden James, 2 -- were swearing like sailors at the so-called "swag suite" at the Teen Choice Awards on August 11 in Los Angeles. Shocked onlookers told the New York Daily News that that were all surprised by their potty mouths, but Spears didn't seem to care.
• As many nice things as Molly Ringwald had to say about the late John Hughes and how he launched her career, she admits that she had not talked to the director in 20 years.
• There were enough protests by producers and writers about the changes that the Emmy's have reversed their decision. They were going to announce 8 category winners off-air... but now, they'll have the full assortment of 28 on the show September 20.
• Kate Gosselin told Regis & Kelly that she and her estranged husband, Jon, definitely won't be getting back together.
• We heard reports that Michael Jackson has been buried in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills cemetery... but father Joe Jackson is claiming that he's still not buried yet.
• General Motors claims its new plug-in electric car, the Chevy Volt, will get 230 miles per gallon in the city. But, you still have to pay for the electricity. At 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, the typical Volt driver would pay about $2.75 for electricity to travel 100 miles.
• Paul Giamatti is going to replace Sean Penn as Larry in the upcoming Three Stooges movie. Good choice!
• Jet Blue is offering a one-month pass for $599. Fly as much as you want, between September 8th and October 8th. We like the concept.
• It's been hard getting details about Steven Tyler's condition after he fell off that stage in South Dakota last week. What we have managed to hear is that Steven broke his shoulder blade in two places.
• Tivo says that during the last season of "American Idol," their subscribers fast-forwarded through Paula Abdul's comments more than those of any of the other judges.
• John Quade, who appeared in several Clint Eastwood movies and was the sheriff in the TV miniseries "Roots," has died. He was 71.
• Brooks and Dunn say they decided to end their musical partnership after they began running out of new ideas!

WHAT’S BEST FOR A FIRST DATE?
A Men's Health online poll asked women to "tell us what's best for a first date?"

• 20% said live music
• 19% said dinner
• 18% said dinner and a movie
• 16% said sporting event
• 12% said lunch
• 12% said bowling
• 12% said miniature golf
• 9% said art museum

SOME WOMANLY FACTS
For married working couples, the more money a woman earns, the less housework she will do, regardless of how much money her husband makes, according to a study from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Led by sociologist Sanjiv Gupta, the team found that for every $7,500 in annual earnings a married woman working fulltime makes, she can expect to do one hour less of routine housework each week.

• According to Glamour magazine:
• 163 pounds is the average weight of a woman.
• 133 pounds is the average woman's goal weight.
• 16% of women say they've been treated badly because of their weight.
• 10 times is the average number of attempts a woman has tried to lose weight.
• 63% of women step on the scale at least once a week.
• 57% of women say they'd rather be rich than stay at their dream weight forever.

PREDICTABLE CHEATERS
Here are some signs from The Script: The 100 Percent Absolutely Predictable Things Men Do When They Cheat, by Elizabeth Landers and Vicky Mainzer:

• He criticizes you, perhaps jokingly suggesting you see a therapist.
• He buys you something nice for no reason.
• He tells you he "needs more space."
• Unexplained charges appear on your credit card.
• He goes to the gym and buys new clothes, but doesn't have sex with you.
• He introduces you to a woman he "just met."
• He doesn't want to talk about your relationship. And if confronted, he splits hairs on the definition of "cheating," like Bill Clinton saying it depends on what "is" is.

SECRET GUY TURN-ONS
6 secret guy turn-ons (from Stuff magazine).

1. He loves that you indulge at dinnertime. Guys love girls who love to eat -- not girls who say they aren't hungry and then pick at their date's food all night.
2. He loves your occasional obscenities. You may worry that it's not ladylike, but occasionally letting a curse escape your lips at an unexpected moment can be a major turn-on.
3. He loves that you aren't a neat freak. Believe it or not, guys find the proliferation of hair products, accessories and unidentified stuff strewn about your apartment oddly sexy.
4. He loves your extra padding. Sure, you've heard that men love women with curves, but how about those extra pounds you've been trying to sweat off at the gym? There's a good chance that your guy loves them, too.
5. He's fascinated by your knowledge of medieval tapestries. Or whatever it is that gets you all hot and bothered -- whether or not he shares the same interests.
6. He loves a good head rub from you. Don't get me wrong -- men love it when you grope their erogenous zones. But that's not the only type of touch they crave.

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
You have a 1 in 2,794 chance of dying in a freakish accident this year. (For comparison's sake: Daredevils have a 1 in 34 chance.) If you're going to die horribly and prematurely, you might as well know what's coming. Here, according to the National Safety Council, are your odds of being killed by:
• A plane crash: 1 in 250,032
• A boating accident: 1 in 393,013
• A car crash: 1 in 6,078
• A car while you're walking: 1 in 44,009
• Explosive gasses: 1 in 5,413,959
• Getting crushed: 1 in 3,736,394
• Electrocution: 1 in 550,382
• Accidental poisoning: 1 in 27,895
• Prescription drugs: 1 in 1,048,553
• A doctor's malpractice: 1 in 90,882
• A murderer: 1 in 12,857
• The police: 1 in 787,193
• A vicious dog: 1 in 11,534,087
• By bees: 1 in 5,895,200
• By a venomous animals or plants: 1 in 3,901,235
• By drowning: 1 in 67,008
• Drowning in your bathtub: 1 in 803,891
• A falling object: 1 in 362,410
• By lightning: 1 in 4,210,857
• By fireworks: 1 in 29,476,000

BIRTHDAYS
In 1860 Author, Ernest Thompson Seton (founded Boy Scouts of America)
In 1907 Actress, Dorothy McHugh (I've Fallen & I Can't Get Up) [d: 7-19-95]
In 1941 Singer/songwriter, David Crosby (Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash) (68)
In 1945 Actor/comedian, Steve Martin (The Jerk, All Of Me, Parenthood) (64)
In 1946 Actress, Susan St. James (Carbon Copy, Kate-Kate & Allie, McBride and Wife) (63)
In 1950 Cartoonist, Gary Larson (The Far Side) (59)
In 1950 Princess Anne of England (59)
In 1966 Actress, Halle Berry (Swordfish, Die Another Day, X-Men) (43)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1756 The French capture Fort Oswego, New York.
In 1935 The Social Security Act becomes law creating unemployment insurance and pension plans for the elderly.

Thursday August 13th, 2009

2009-08-13T03:00:00.001-04:00

"If I could draw, I'd draw you as my friend."

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Probably Not The Best Way
In Glenrock, Wyoming, Police Chief Tom Sweet admitted that two officers "probably didn't do things the best way" when they used a Taser on a 76-year-old man driving an antique tractor in a parade. State investigator Tim Hill has said the two officers contend Grose disobeyed their orders and apparently decided the best thing to do was tase the poor guy. Now the public is screaming for the officers to be fired. Witness Scott McWilliams, who was shoved by the officers said, "Those two were the most out-of-control officers I've ever seen in my life. These two guys got to go." In the meantime an investigation continues and the two taser-happy officers are on paid leave. (Casper Star-Tribune)

Stop Harassing Me and My Hot, Naked Wife!
In Gahanna, Ohio, police officer Ron Fithen's wife Beth made it to Playboy magazine and posed nude back in 2008. That little photo shoot may turn out to be a gold mine for the Fithens as Ron is now suing his own police department, its two top administrators, and the City of Gahanna, alleging they are responsible for "a humiliating and intolerable working environment." The Fithens want $3.5 million in damages, plus attorney's fees and contend that photo shoot lead to a "sham investigation" of the entire Fithen family that "did not result in a single criminal charge and caused the family extreme emotional distress and embarrassment." The suit says at one point, Deputy Police Chief Ken Bell asked Officer Fithen for a copy of the magazine his wife appeared in, as well as her autograph. (NBC News)

I Just Needed Someone To Talk To!
In Frederick, Maryland, 20-year-old Bryan Paul Blanchard told police he just needed someone to talk to. And that's why he repeatedly called 911 from pay phones. But every time police would arrive at the pay phone they would find Bryan long gone and the phone left off the hook. They finally caught him on surveillance video, arrested him and he confessed. He'll now have someone to talk to all the time -- a cell mate. He's facing a maximum sentence of three years in jail and/or a $500 fine for abusing the 911 system. Dude -- ever hear of a chat room? Or a bar? (Frederick News Post)

Jump the Shark?
We've heard of jumping the shark but this is crazy! In Haulover Beach, Florida, Michael Powers and his friends were out on their boat for a day of spear fishing and lobster diving when they received a surprise visitor. A five and a half foot bull shark jumped out of the water and right into the boat! It then proceeded to flop around violently until eventually injuring itself. Powers said, "One minute it was in the air, the next minute it was in the boat just beating everything in God's creation." It took about 30 minutes before the shark to settle down and stop breaking things. At that point Powers and his passengers got the shark out of the boat by roping it from underneath, grabbing it's fins and shoving it overboard and back into the water. (AHN News)

Have You Seen My Leg Yet?
In China, 48-year-old Song Weiguo has a most unusual reminder of his drunk driving accident. It's his own severed leg which he has preserved in formaldehyde for 20 years to warn people against the dangers of drinking and driving. Song's left leg had to be amputated after he hit a tractor while driving his motorbike after drinking heavily back in 1989. He says, "When the doctor told me my leg had to be amputated, I cried a lot. Later I pleaded with him to let me keep the severed leg. Every August, he takes the leg out of its sealed tank and invites friends and people he suspects of drink driving to come and see it. Seems to be effective. Song says, "It scares the hell out of people and none of them ever drives after drinking again." And he's claiming all the credit for the fact that there has not been a single drunk driving related accident in his home town for years. (Ananova)

Separation of Church and Zoo?
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, republican mayoral candidate Anna Falling's big campaign issue is her desire to create an exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo teaching the Christian story of creation from the book of Genesis as the origin of all the animals. An attempt to get the exhibit four years ago failed but Falling is making it a centerpiece of her campaign and says, "Some may ask why this
be glorified in this city. He shall not be shunned. Upon our election, we hereby commit to honoring Him in all ways that He has been dishonored." A Tulsa Zoo spokesperson said in a statement that the Tulsa Parks Board resolved this issue in 2005, after a very public process involving the entire community. (News On 6)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Thursday Stuff
• If you're keeping score at home, Paris Hilton and Doug Reinhardt are back together.
• Names in the rumor mill for the next edition of "Dancing with the Stars": LaToya Jackson, Vera Wang, Lou Ferrigno, Dean McDermott and wrestler Kurt Angle.
• Dane Cook did make some Vanessa Hudgens nude photo jokes at the Teen Choice Awards... it's just that they were edited out before broadcast.
• MTV is unplugging its studio overlooking Times Square and will close it by the end of the year.
• Jennifer Hudson gave birth to a baby boy: David Daniel Otunga, Jr., named after the father, Jennifer's fiance.
• The first Michael Jackson books sanctioned by his estate will be out December 7th.
• Milla Jovovich is getting married next week to her British fiance... but not in a designer dress. She made the wedding dress herself!
• The number being thrown around as Simon Cowell's new annual salary: $45 million.
• First new job for Paula Abdul: guest-starring on an episode of "Ugly Betty."
• Anything unusual happen in L.A. last weekend? Alex von Furstenberg -- the son of designer Diane von Furstenberg -- hired a small plane to fly over the beaches with a sign that read, "Reggie Miller Stop Pursuing Married Women!" He believed Reggie had been flirting with his fiancee.
• Tony Bennett and Dave Brubeck performed together at a music festival in Rhode Island over the weekend... only the 2nd time in their 60-year careers that they have performed together.

YELLING AT THE WORKPLACE IS CRAZY
Half of all U.S. workers know that someone will be yelling today -- so much so that it's considered verbal abuse. And 25% say it's so bad, it has driven them to tears. And, they're not just raising their voices. Some are losing control. One-sixth of workers say anger has led to property damage, while 10% reported physical violence. And who is most afflicted with desk rage? It's the overachievers. The smart, driven, goal-oriented personalities who set impossibly high standards for themselves and others.

THE MOST DANGEROUS WAY TO TRAVEL
The single most dangerous way to travel is by motorcycle. A motorcyclist is 58 times more likely to be fatally injured on a trip than are occupants of passenger vehicles. That's the word from researchers at the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. And it seems that bicycling or walking aren't all that safe, either. Bicyclists and pedestrians are 2.3 and 1.5 times more likely, respectively, to experience a fatal injury than those who ride in passenger vehicles. The safest mode of transportation appears to be the bus, as long as you don't count the fact that most people have to walk to the bus stop.

A CONTINENT OBSESSED WITH FOOD
With all the time and energy spent watching waistlines, are we really any healthier or happier? Woman's Day and AOL Food asked more than 2,500 women to open their fridges and food logs and tell us what they've been eating and how food makes them feel. Here's what they found:

• 32% of you eat something you'll later regret almost every day.
• 27% have tired one or two diets in their lifetime.
• 23% have tired more than five diets in their lifetime.
• 11% said they are "always on a diet."
• 43% said they are "very unhappy with my weight."
• 28% said "I'm trying to lose 10 to 15 pounds."
• 70% said their husband's eating habits do not affect their own.
• 48% say they hit the fast food drive-thru "once every now and then."
• 20% say they hit the fast food drive-thru "once a week."
• 16% say they hit the fast food drive-thru "two or more times a week."
• 16% say they don't eat fast food.
• 30% of children are considered overweight according to the American Obesity Association.
• 79% of parents are not concerned about their children's weight.
• 59% would choose forever having ice cream over potato chips.
• 51% would choose forever having bread over pasta.
• 52% would choose forever having cheese over chocolate.

LEGIT TRIVIA
Let’s see how you do. Get a pencil and paper and check your answers at the bottom of today’s "Dick Reeves Morning Show” blog.

1. 31% of men surveyed said that their dads' had a lot of these?
2. Outside North and South America, the only alligators found in the wild are found where?
3. What was the first TV show to use "open captions," that is, captioning for the hearing-impaired?
4. What state is the only state without a traditional state flag?
5. Prior to the 1800s, people tried to clean their teeth using what?
6. Why was the string originally attached to boxes of animal crackers?
7. What is the most popular day of the week for giving birth?
8. In the shower scene in this film, it was curtains for Janet Leigh's character Marion Crane.
9. This designer looked to "Yesterday" for her own wedding dress, updating a version of her mother Linda's 1969 dress.
10. After failing to make the 1968 Olympic Figure Skating team, she won with her wedding gown collection.
11. The 1976 horror film "Carrie" starred Sissy Spacek and what leading Hollywood actor in one of his earliest roles?
12. In 1999, for the first time in 13 years a female artist won Entertainer of the Year. Name this artist.
13. Which two Great Lakes are hydrologically intertwined and are sometimes considered to be one entity?
14. If five people were to shake hands with everyone in the group, how many handshakes would it take?
15. Who was the male star of the 1985 film, "Summer Rental?”
16. On "Get Smart", what was Maxwell Smart's cover occupation?
17. Grand Valley is nicknamed "The Lakers". What is the mascot's name?
18. What record topped both the pop and country charts for Sonny James in early 1957?
19. What was the first college to be founded in the British Colonies? (Harvard University)
20. What is James Blunt's middle name?

ODD GUY FOR THE RECORD BOOKS
Here's a list of the oddest Guinness Book of World Recordholders:

• Fastest Talker -- In 1995, Canadian Sean Shannon recited Hamlet's "To be or not to be" soliloquy, which is 260 words, in just 23.8 seconds.
• Heaviest Vehicle Pulled Over 100 Feet -- In 2004, Derek Boyer of Australia pulled a 30.68-ton truck-trailer 30.5 meters.
• Highest Shallow Dive -- In January 2004, Danny Higginbottom of Louisiana dove from a height of 8.90 meters into 30 centimeters of water.
• Breath Held Voluntarily -- American Robert Foster held his breath for 13 minutes, 42.5 seconds in 1959.
• Longest Time to Endure Full Body Ice Contact -- Wim Hoff of the Netherlands stood in an ice cube-filled tube for 1 hour, 17 minutes in January 2004.
• Most Consecutive Pogo-Stick Jumps -- In 1990 in California, Gary Stewart did 177,737 consecutive pogo-stick jumps.
• Most Glasses Balanced on the Chin -- In 2001 in New York, Ashrita Furman managed to balance 75 pint-sized beer glasses on his chin for 10.6 seconds.
• Most One-Finger Push-Ups -- In 1992 in London, Paul Lynch performed 124 one-finger push-ups.
• Highest Tightrope Walk -- Frenchman Michael Menin walked a 3,150 meter-high tightrope in 1989.
• Walking -- The greatest documented lifetime mileage was between 1969 and 2000, Arthur Blessitt of Florida walked 34,501 miles on seven continents while carrying a 3.7-meter cross.
• Hairiest Family -- Mexican brothers Victor and Gabriel Ramos Gomez have 98 percent of their bodies covered in fur.
• Longest Attack of Hiccups -- American Charles Osborne suffered the hiccups from 1922 to 1990.
• Longest Tattoo Session -- In 2003, Chris Goodwill spent 33 hours tattooing Kevin Budden in Plumstead, South East London.
• Longest Time With a Nail in the Head -- Briton Robin Hanshaw had a one-inch rusty nail stuck between his ear and his eye for 22 years.
• Most Compulsive Swallower -- In 1927, a Canadian woman had 2,533 objects removed from her stomach, including 947 pins.
• Most Lightning Strikes Survived -- Roy C. Sullivan of Virginia was struck for the seventh time in 1977.
• Most Pierced Man -- Luis Antonio Aguero from Cuba has 230 piercings.
• Most Children Delivered -- In 1997, Bobbi McCaughey of Iowa gave birth to seven babies delivered by Caesarean section.
• Most Feet Sniffed -- In a 15-year career, Madeline Albrecht sniffed 5,600 feet while working for foot care experts Dr. Scholl. (And you think your job stinks!)
• Fastest Speed Dragged Behind a Motorbike -- Gary Rothwell of Liverpool was dragged at 156 mph on 2-millimeter titanium-soled boots in 1999.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1655 Inventor, Johann Christoph Denner (clarinet)
In 1860 Sharpshooter, Annie Oakley (Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show)
In 1899 Director, Alfred Hitchcock (The Birds, Rear Window) [d: 4-29-80]
In 1912 Golf Hall-of-Famer, Ben Hogan (63 career wins) [d: 7-25-97]
In 1919 Evangelist, Rex Humbard (90)
In 1926 Fidel Castro, president of Cuba (83)
In 1930 Singer/variety show host, Don Ho [d: 4-14-07]
In 1941 Hockey player, Bobby Clarke (68)
In 1959 Actor/disc jockey, Danny Bonaduce (Danny-Partridge Family) (50)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1521 Spanish conqueror Hernando Cortez captures present-day Mexico City from the Aztec Indians.
In 1889 William Gray of Hartford, CT, receives a patent for a coin-operated telephone.
In 1910 Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, dies in London.
In 1934 The satirical comic strip "L'il Abner," created by Al Capp, debuts.
In 1942 Walt Disney's full-length animated feature "Bambi" premieres.
In 1995 Baseball Hall-of-Famer Mickey Mantle dies of liver cancer at age 63.

LEGIT TRIVIA ANSWERS
1. A stash of girly magazines in the house
2. China
3. PBS “The French Chef”
4. Ohio – It has a pennant
5. Eggshells
6. So that the box could be hung from a branch of the Christmas Tree
7. Tuesday
8. Psycho
9. Stella McCartney
10. Vera Wang
11. John Travolta
12. Shania Twain
13. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron
14. 10
15. John Candy
16. Greeting card Salesman
17. Louie the Laker
18. Young Love
19. Harvard University
20. Hillier

Wednesday August 12th, 2009

2009-08-12T03:00:00.001-04:00

GOOD MORNING
Picture I took in a field of Sunflowers near where I live

TODAYS TOPICALITY
Jailed For Yawning?
Hard to believe this is still America sometimes. In Joliet, Illinois, 33-year-old Clifton Williams has been put in jail -- for yawning! He was in court watching his cousin, Jason Mayfield, plead guilty to a drug charge when he stretched and let out a yawn. Judge Daniel Rozak did not like this at all so he sentenced Cousin Jason to two years' probation and then sentenced Williams to six months in jail! Williams' father told reporters, "I was flabbergasted because I didn't realize a judge could do that. It seems to me like a yawn is an involuntary action." But Chuck Pelkie, from the state's attorney office, said, "It was not a simple yawn-- it was a loud and boisterous attempt to disrupt the proceedings." (Chicago Tribune)

Man To Marry His Pillow!
In Nigeria, 26-year-old Okeke Ikechukwu says he just cannot get a woman because of his stuttering problem. So he's announced he will marry his pillow! He says, "Since I am a stutterer, ladies have always laughed at me whenever I try to talk to them. I have needs, and so I have taken to sleeping with my pillow in my arms ever since I was 16. I have grown to fall in love with it, and I intend to spend the rest of my life with it." He did note that unlike a real woman, the pillow would cost him little or nothing to maintain for the rest of its life and added, "I think it will make the ideal mate for me." (Daily Mail)

Justice La Crosse Style!
The locals are calling in justice La Crosse style -- La Crosse, Washington, that is! It seems 25-year-old Sean Lee allegedly stopped by 69-year-old Larry Garrett's house and told Larry, "I need to get some gas. I'm from Seattle and my wife's having a baby in Lewiston and I'm out of gas." So Larry paid for the gas and even made Sean some food. But right after Sean finished his meal, he stole Larry's wallet and took off running. Unfortunately for Sean, Larry's cousin, Lowell Garrett, was just outside and Larry yelled, "Stop him! He's got my wallet!" So with Lowell holding Sean on the ground, Larry went and got some of those plastic ties and hog tied the young man. They then left him in the middle of the road and called police -- who arrived 20 minutes later. (KXLY News)

Snowing in the Wind?
Legendary folk icon Bob Dylan plans to release an album of Christmas songs this year, including yuletide classics like "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem." It's an interesting choice of material considering that Dylan was born Jewish but then became a Born Again Christian from 1979-1981, before switching back to Judaism. Scott Marshall, who has written a book called God and Bob Dylan said, "At first glance it may sound bizarre, but I don't think Dylan cares much about what his detractors might make of it. He's both never renounced being Jewish or renounced his experience with Jesus some three decades ago." Dylan, now aged 68, is currently touring the United States as part of his so-called "Never Ending Tour.,

Dr. Ruth Probably Not Welcome in Saudi Arabia
There will be no "Dr. Ruth" style sex-talk TV shows in Saudi Arabia. The government just shut down the Jeddah office of a Lebanon-based television network after it aired an interview with a Saudi man speaking openly about his sexual escapades! That is a HUGE no-no over there. Plus they arrested 32-year-old Mazen Abdul-Jawad, the man who spoke to cameras from his bedroom about how couples can spice up their sex lives. Here's the really sad part -- he may now face the death penalty! Like many Arab countries, Saudi Arabia prohibits sexually explicit content on television and in newspapers, magazines and books.

So Much For Infinity and Beyond!
Buzz Lightyear may be heck of a cartoon super hero, but in real life -- doesn't fare so well. In Corio, Australia, 28-year-old George Humphries tried to break into and rob a residential home while wielding a Buzz Lightyear toy pistol. Unfortunately for him, that wasn't much of a match for a sawed-off-shotgun, which the home's owner was armed with-- and used to shoot Humphries in the shoulder. The police came, arrested Buzz Lightyear boy and he pleaded guilty in court. (Courier Mail)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Wednesday Stuff
• Simon Cowell is said to be close to signing a 3-year-deal with Fox, so you'll have him around for several more seasons of "American Idol."
• "King of the Hill" will say goodbye forever with a one-hour series finale on Sunday night, September 13.
• Google has introduced a new version of it's search engine called "Caffeine," that they say is much faster than it's current version.
• Over 350 new species of animals from a flying frog to the world's tiniest deer have been discovered in the Himalayas over the past decade.
• It's all systems go for a 3-D "Final Days" video of Michael Jackson. It's scheduled to hit theaters October 30.
• Brooks and Dunn are calling it quits... but not before one more greatest hits CD and a 2010 farewell tour.
• Paul Reubens will star in The Pee-wee Herman Show for a limited engagement beginning November 8th at The Music Box @ Fonda in L.A.
• Tobey Maguire has been spotted around Seattle lately, filming his latest movie.
• It was a family affair in New York on Saturday, where Kate Hudson, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell all sat together at Yankee stadium to watch Kate's sweetie play: Alex Rodriguez.
• Meanwhile, Jermaine Jackson was at the Dodger game in LA Friday night, sitting behind the dugout... and caught a foul ball!
• Michael Douglas' son, Cameron, is facing such massive drug charges that he faces a possible life sentence if convicted.
• Ellen DeGeneres is going to give away $1,000 to someone that follows her on Twitter.
• Elizabeth Mitchell plays Juliette on "Lost," but you'll also see her this fall starring in the new ABC series, "V."
• Brad Pitt took his 8 and 5 year old with him to a Green Day concert Friday night.
• Fox is going to show a 2-hour special on the Octomom, August 19th.
• Victoria Beckham will appear as a judge on "American Idol" for the Denver auditions.
• After 28 years with Chicago, keyboardist Bill Champlin is leaving the group to pursue a solo career.
• GM says it has to be verified by the EPA, but THEIR tests show the new Chevy Volt (mostly electric car) would get over 230 miles per gallon!

TOP FIVE DRAWBACKS OF THE 230 MPG CHEVY VOLT

1. 5-mile long extension cord
2. Shorts out in car washes
3. New campaign slogan: "Volt for me and I'll drive you free!"
4. You'll never be able to use the old "we ran out of gas" excuse on her again
5. Batteries not included

OUR FEARS
Our greatest fear of all is being in a plane crash, according to a new survey conducted by Harris for the American Diabetes Association. The top five things we fear the most:

1. Being in a plane crash, 16%
2. Snake bites, 13%
3. Being hit by lightning, 5%
4. Getting a disease, 5%
5. A shark attack, 4%

When further asked about their fear of disease, 49% of the respondents said they have a fear of cancer, while just 3% said they fear diabetes.

WE LIE AND OMIT WHEN WE SPEAK
In just a 10-minute conversation, most of us tell three lies, as well as a range of minor omissions, exaggerations and bluffs. But the average listener only spots a fib 54% of the time. When it comes to law enforcement, that may soon change. British researchers from the University of Southampton have figured out how to spot a liar, and the test is so accurate it could someday replace the traditional polygraph. The test is called Tara, short for antagonistic response alethiometer, and it took volunteers 1.2 seconds to speak the truth, but 1.8 seconds to tell a lie. 85% of the time, the volunteer liars were slower when they prevaricated. Tara could soon replace more traditional lie detector methods.

5 MEDICAL REASONS YOU SHOULD HAVE SEX TONIGHT
The syndicated TV show "The Doctors" recently revealed five medical reasons you should have sex tonight:

1. Sex reduces chronic pain
2. Sex strengthens muscles
3. Sex helps you to lose weight
4. Sex helps you to sleep better
5. Sex boosts your immunity

TOP 10 THINGS THAT WOMEN THINK IS ROMANTIC
From a Harris Poll:

1. Candlelight dinners
2. Picnics in the country
3. Watching a sunset or sunrise
4. Romantic movies
5. Soaking in a hot bath
6. Dancing
7. Putting perfume on
8. Wearing silk to bed
9. Exercise
10. Reading a romance novel

YOUR SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER IS CHEATING WHEN
Your spouse is cheating on you if...

1. You just feel something is going on. Trust your intuition.
2. There are noticeable changes in your sex life.
3. You catch him lying at times.
4. She has become distant at times.
5. There are periods of time when you cannot reach him by phone.
6. She has become increasingly critical of you.
7. He deletes all caller-ID information from his telephones.
8. She has changed the way she looks or dresses.
9. He is away more often, claiming he needs more "alone time."
10. More frequently than before, she needs to work late at night or on weekends.
11. His phone bills are higher, and there are numbers on it that you don't recognize.
12. Her phone rings at odd times.
13. He spends countless hours, usually late at night, on the computer.
14. She keeps perfume and a change of clothes in her car.
15. He hides his cell phone bill or home phone bill so you won't see it.

HOW TO KEEP A HEALTHY LEVEL OF INSANITY AT THE OFFICE
• At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a blow dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.
• Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice.
• Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
• Put your garbage can on your desk and label it "in."
• As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
• Ask people what sex they are. Laugh hysterically after they answer.
• Specify in fast-food drive-thrus that your order is "to go".
• Sing along at the opera.
• Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.
• Drape mosquito netting over your cubicle and play a tape of jungle sounds all day.
• Insist that your co-workers address you by your wrestling name, Rock Hard Kim.
• When leaving the zoo, run towards the parking lot, screaming "They're loose! They're loose!"
• Tell your children over dinner, "Due to the economy, we're going to have to let one of you go."
• Regardless of their actual name, call your boss LeRoy.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1900 Actress, Elizabeth Kerr (Cora Hudson-Mork & Mindy) (109)
In 1907 Comedian, Joe Besser (Joe-The Three Stooges, 1956-59) [d: 3-1-88]
In 1912 Actress, Jane Wyatt (Father Knows Best, Star Trek) [d: 10-23-06]
In 1927 Country singer, Porter Wagoner (Y'all Come) [d: 10-28-07]
In 1929 Country singer/guitarist, Buck Owens (Hee Haw) [d: 3-25-06]
In 1939 Actor, George Hamilton (Love at First Bite, Where the Boys Are) (70)
In 1949 Singer/songwriter, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) (60)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1851 Issac Singer is granted a patent for the sewing machine.
In 1856 The first U.S. patent for an accordion is issued to Anthony Fass.
In 1877 Thomas Edison invents the sound recording with his Edisonphone.
In 1934 Babe Ruth plays his final game at Fenway Park, 41,766 on hand.

Tuesday August 11th, 2009

2009-08-11T03:00:00.000-04:00

Resurrect Romance Week
August 10-16th

Here are some simple tips for men to become more romantic, according to the book "Living Romantically Everyday."

• Make a list -- Make a list of the special days on the calendar that you celebrate together, such as the day you met, your yearly anniversary, or even the anniversary of your first kiss.
• Toast to her -- Toast each other when you sit down to dinner. It doesn't need to be over bubbly or wine, but even a glass of water or iced tea. Tell her something you love about her and then drink to it!
• Reach out and touch her -- Use the power of touch to make a lasting impression throughout the day.
• Create a photo album -- Take pictures often; don't save the camera for holidays and special occasions. Create a visual scrapbook of your everyday life together.
• Take note of significant things -- Set something aside for her every day. It might be a newspaper article you read during your commute, a link to a web site you came across, or even a story you heard by the office water cooler.
• Be thoughtful -- Do something thoughtful for her every day. Whether it's making her a cup of coffee in the morning, sticking a surprise note in her bag, or leaving her a chocolate "kiss" on her pillow before bedtime.
• Keep up your appearance -- Let her see you at your best. It's ironic that we dress up to meet total strangers but let ourselves go around our nearest and dearest. Most women love to see their men clean-shaven, in great clothes and perhaps wearing a hint of her favorite cologne.
• Tell her about your moods -- Be honest if you are feeling stressed or under the weather. Your woman will appreciate your honesty and will know not to take it personally when you come home in a bad mood.
• Discuss your day -- Sit down together when you get home and relate your daily experiences. The best thing about spending time apart is that it makes you appreciate each other more.

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Prison Grade Hot Sauce
Want a taste of what it's like in prison without having to be locked up? Well, there's a group of inmates from the minimum-security Hillsborough County Jail in Florida who can accommodate you. The low-risk jailbirds are selling their "Jailhouse Fire Hot Sauce" which you can get in "Original,""Smoke" and "No Escape" varieties, all made from their jail-grown peppers. Actually they came up with the recipe and started selling it in 2005. Since then they've made around $10,000 on the sauce. Each bottle is $7 bucks. But don't worry -- they don't get to keep the cash. The income is used to keep up the greenhouse and buy basic supplies. (St. Petersburg Times)

Good Thing You Hit That Church!
Usually a cab smashing into a church is a bad thing. Not always. In Mount Vernon, New York, a cab driver told police that a passenger had tried to rob and choke him and that was the reason his cab crashed into a storefront church. Good thing he did. Inside, police found four adults and a 3-year-old girl who had been locked inside and were apparently being held prisoner. Police said it looked as if the people had been living there, because the area was covered with makeshift beds and there was a cooking area. The five people were taken to the hospital. Authorities are investigating how the people got there as well as the cab driver's account of being robbed. In the meantime the church has been boarded up. (The Journal News)

An Arresting Safety Belt!
In Eastpointe, Michigan, being a safe driver cost one purse-snatcher his freedom! 45-year-old Lawrence Neal was leading police on a car chase after allegedly snatching a purse. But when he tried to jump from the vehicle, his leg got tangled up in his seatbelt and he ended up being dragged for several hundred feet as the car was still in gear! By the time the car came to a stop on a front lawn, Neal's leg was broken and he wasn't going anywhere! But he was a safe driver. Not only did he use his seatbelt during the chase, police say he always used proper turn signals. Must have been his first car chase. (myway.com)

Ladies and Gentlemen: The Next Ghandi
Apparently the world is about to get its next Ghandi. And you'll never guess who it is. Paul McCartney's ex-wife Heather Mills! At least according to her. When interviewed by a local newspaper in Brighton, England, Ms. Mills said she identifies with India's iconic human rights leader as well as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, because of the persecution they have all endured in their bid to tell the truth. Mills is best known for walking away with a $48 million pay out when she divorced her former Beatle husband last year. She also claims her popularity has soared in recent months. Surprising considering during her bitter divorce with Paul, Mills became a hate-figure for most people around the world who saw her as nothing more than a gold-digger! (AHN News)

World's Longest Bridal Gown?
Could the moment we've all been waiting for finally be here? Could there be a new world record for the longest bridal gown? According to 25-year-old Chinese bride Lin Rong, there is! She claims the 7,093-foot long gown she wore on her wedding day is a new record and was the idea of her new husband whose family and relatives made the dress. Took 'em three months and $5,852 bucks! A total 9,999 roses were pinned to the gown stitched with 608 crystals. The unrolling of the gown from a train and pinning of the roses took three hours to finish before the bride wore it. The current world's longest wedding gown is 5,180 feet long. But Ms. Rong has applied to the Guinness World Records folks and sent them a video to claim the new record. (AHN News)

Almost Buried a Baby Alive!
Good thing Jose Alvarenga opened his dead baby's coffin just before burial. The baby had been pronounced dead by doctors shortly after birth. During the funeral, the grieving father opened the coffin to bid an emotional farewell to the infant and found the baby was STILL BREATHING! He rushed back to the hospital with his unnamed son in his arms and nurses placed the infant in an oxygen chamber. The doctors now say the baby is stable. But what do they know? They also said he was dead! An investigation into the incredible mishap has been launched. The head of the hospital's pediatric intensive care unit suggested that a doctor may not have properly checked the infant's vital signs. (Ananova)

Fat Boy Going To Jail
25-year-old George Vera of Houston, Texas weighs an impressive 560 pounds -- and because of that, he's going to jail. Okay, he's not going to jail because he's fat -- he's going to jail because he used his excessive rolls of fat to conceal and smuggle a gun into both Houston city and county jails. Police had initially arrested Vera for selling bootlegged CDs out of the back of a sport utility vehicle and spokesman Victor Senties said Vera was searched four times-- at the scene, when he arrived at the city jail, before he was transferred to county jail and again when he arrived there. The gun only came to light when he later approached a county prison guard during a shower break and admitted having smuggled it in. The gun was not loaded. Houston Police Officers Union president Gary Blankinship said officers were trained how to search obese people explaining, "We teach officers to lift up and look under but the officer may not have arrested anyone this big before." Hmmmm -- sure sounds like a fun job, yes? (Ananova)

I Don't Want To Sound Un-Christian But...
For the second time this year, 19-year-old Justin Williams has been arrested after being found sleeping in a stolen van from the Immanuel Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida. The church's minister of education, Rick Stewart said, "I don't want to sound un-Christian, but that's just dumb." Stewart said the same office window at the church was broken in both instances and that Justin knew where the keys were located because he was a part-time janitor at the church several years ago, though he isn't a church member. Stewart added, "It's just really sort of bizarre. I think we ought to pray for him." Yeah, that -- and find a new hiding place for your van keys! (Tampa Bay Tribune)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tuesday Stuff
• It's not your imagination: the price of gas has gone up 16 cents a gallon in the U.S. over the past two weeks.
• Daniel Baldwin and his wife welcomed their fifth child into the world last Friday, a girl.
• Hugh Hefner has scrapped plans to feature 75-year-old TV star Shirley Jones because the "Partridge Family" actress "wouldn't show enough" skin, and refused to pose nude.
• Michael Jackson was quietly buried last Thursday at Forrest Lawn Hollywood Hills.
• Kiefer Sutherland is America's highest paid TV actor, getting $500,000 per episode of "24."
• British actor Mark Lester says he's the real father of Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris... and is willing to take a blood test to prove it.
• Australia has a camel over-population. There are now over a million of them in the deserts of Australia and the population is doubling ever 9 years.
• People who consumed a diet rich in calcium and dairy products as children live longer lives as adults, according to a 65-year study from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia.
• Edward Williams of Wichita won $75,000 in the state lottery last September... and has now won $900,000... the second time he's won the lottery in the past year!
• The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck has given birth to her third child with former NFL quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, a son: Isaiah Timothy.
• A Kenya man offered Hillary Clinton 40 goats and 20 cows if he could marry her daughter, Chelsea, and asked her to convey the offer.
• Dancing With the Stars pro Derek Hough and Shannon Elizabeth announced their breakup last Friday on Twitter.
• Kara DioGuardi says she hopes Paula Abdul will reconsider and return to "American Idol" next season. Oh, the drama.
• The family of the late TV pitchman Billy Mays said they were never aware that he used cocaine or other non-prescription drugs before his death and they were considering whether to have an independent review of an official autopsy.
• By the way, there will be a Jim and Pam wedding on the Office this fall.
• A new research study shows that dogs are as smart as 2-year-old human children.
• On the 40th anniversary of the Manson murders in Los Angeles, Debra Tate (who was just 16 at the time) remembers calling her older sister, Sharon, and asking if she and a friend could spend the night at their house... and Sharon told them "no."
• Tracy Morgan and his wife Sabina are getting divorced. They've been married 23 years, but living apart for the past 8.

THE PUBLIC RESTROOMS GERMIEST/DIRTIRST PLACE
The germiest place in a public restroom is not the toilet. It's the floor. And while a Columbia University study concluded that you can't catch a disease from a toilet seat, you won't want to place your purse or diaper bag on the restroom floor, since it is swimming in a stew of germs that can include strep, staph, E-coli, coliform, rotavirus and the potentially deadly MRSA virus. If your purse picks up those germs and then you touch your purse and then your mouth, nose or eyes, you could get sick. Want more?

• Use the first stall; it tends to be the cleanest. The middle stall tends to have the most bacteria.
• If the toilet doesn't flush automatically, use your foot instead of your hand to flush it.
• You are more likely to pick up germs on your hands than on your behind. So wash your hands with hot water and soap for at least 30 seconds.
• Make sure your children also wash their hands thoroughly. Little kids typically put their hands on the toilet seat to steady themselves, and these germs could lead to an infection once those hands touch the nose, mouth or eyes.
• After you dry your hands, use a clean, dry paper towel on the door knob. Other people who didn't wash their hands have touched that knob, leaving it coated in bacteria.
• Hang your purse and diaper bag. Don't ever place them on the restroom floor. In a study in which Gerba examined women's purses, he found that fully one-third of them had fecal bacteria on the bottom. If there isn't a hook in the stall, hang your purse around your neck!
• As a rule, the cleanest toilets are in hospitals and the worst are in airports and airplanes.

ARE YOUR CHILDREN SPOILED?
Are your kids spoiled? Would you admit it? Dan Kindlon, author of Too Much of a Good Thing, interviewed more than 1,000 parents, and roughly 650 teenagers, and found that 60% of parents thought their kids were spoiled, and 15% of teens thought they, themselves, fit the bill. Although, what's spoiled for one parent may not be for another. What's your definition of being spoiled?

WHO MAKES WHAT?
Here's TV Guide's annual roundup of TV salaries:

Drama - Per Episode
• $550,000 - Kiefer Sutherland "24"
• $400,000 - Hugh Laurie "House"
• $400,000 - Mariska Hargitay "Law and Order: SUV"
• $400,000 - Christopher Meloni "Law and Order: SUV"
• $390,000 - Marg Helgenberger "CSI"
• $375,000 - David Caruso "CSI: Miami"
• $350,000 - Laurence Fishburne "CSI"
• $325,000 - Mark Harmon "NCIS"
• $275,000 - Ellen Pompeo "Grey's Anatomy"
• $250,000 - Tim Roth "Lie to Me"
• $250,000 - Kate Walsh "Private Practice"
• $250,000 - Patrick Dempsey "Grey's Anatomy"
• $250,000 - Simon Baker "The Mentalist"
• $250,000 - Calista Flockhart "Brothers and Sisters"
• $225,000 - Patricia Arquette "Medium"
• $175,000 - Tom Welling "Smallville"
• $150,000 - Jennifer Love Hewitt "Ghost Wisperer"
• $150,000 - Sally Field "Brothers and Sisters"
• $150,000 - Chris O'Donnell "NCIS: Los Angeles"
• $150,000 - LL Cool J "NCIS:
• $125,000 - Peter Krause "Parenthood"
• $50,000 - Chace Crawford "Gossip Girl"
• $50,000 - Blake Lively "Gossip Girl"

Comedy - Per Episode
• $875,000 - Charlie Sheen "Two and A Half Men" (figure includes ownership stake in the series)
• $400,000 - Felicity Huffman "Desperate Housewives"
• $400,000 - Marcis Cross "Desperate Housewives"
• $400,000 - Teri Hatcher "Desperate Housewives"
• $400,000 - Eva Longoria Parker "Desperate Housewives"
• $400,000 - Dan Castellaneta "The Simpsons"
• $400,000 - Yeardley Smith "The Simpsons"
• $400,000 - Julie Kavner "The Simpsons"
• $400,000 - Nancy Cartwright "The Simpsons"
• $350,000 - Zach Braff "Scrubs"
• $300,000 - Tina Fey "30 Rock"
• $300,000 - Alec Baldwin "30 Rock"
• $275,000 - Julia Louis-Drefus "Old Christine"
• $200,000 - Patricia Heaton "The Middle"
• $175,000 - Kelsey Grammer "Hawk"
• $150,000 - Neil Patrick Harris "How I Met Your Mother"
• $150,000 - Jay Mohr "Gary Unmarried"
• $125,000 - Jenna Elfman "Accidentally on Purpose"
• $100,000 - Courteney Cox "Cougar Town"
• $50,000 - Joel McHale "Community"
• $7,500 - Starting salary for player on "Saturday Night Live"

Cable - Per Episode
• $275,000 - Kyra Sedgwick "The Closer"
• $250,000 - Denis Leary "Rescue Me"
• $200,000 - Glenn Close "Damages"
• $175,000 - Julian McMahon "Nip/Tuck"
• $150,000 - Holly Hunter "Saving Grace"
• $135,000 - Jeffrey Donovan "Burn Notice"
• $75,000 - Thomas Jane "Hung"
• $75,000 - Jon Hamm "Mad Men"

Reality
• $15 million per year - Ryan Seacrest
• $150,000 per episode - Jeff Probst
• $150,000 per episode - Jon and Kate

Late Night - Per Year
• $32 million - David Letterman
• $30 million - Jay Leno
• $14 million - Conan O'Brien
• $14 million - Jon Stewart
• $6 million - Jimmy Kimmel

News - Per Year
• $15 million - Katie Couric CBS
• $13 million - Matt Lauer "NBC"
• $12 million - Diane Sawyer "ABC"
• $10 million - Meredith Vieira "NBC"
• $10 million - Bill O'Reilly "Fox News Channel"
• $7.5 million - Keith Olbermann "MSNBC"
• $7 million - Larry King "CNN"
• $5 million - Anderson Cooper "CNN"
• $3 million - Wolf Blitzer "CNN"
• $3 million - Chris Matthews "MSNBC"
• $2 million - Glenn Beck "Fox News Channel"

BIRTHDAYS
In 1921 Author/journalist, Alex Haley (Roots) [d: 2-10-92]
In 1925 Talk show host/singer, Mike Douglas (Mike Douglas Show) [d: 8-11-06]
In 1933 TV evangelist, Rev. Jerry Falwell (Moral Majority) [d: 5-15-07]
In 1943 Bassist, James Kale (Guess Who) (66)
In 1953 Wrestler, Hollywood “Hulk” Hogan (WWF heavyweight champion 1984-89) (56)
In 1955 Singer/songwriter, Joe Jackson (Steppin' Out) (54)
In 1967 Actress, Angelle Brooks (Stephanie-Young and the Restless) (42)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1860 The nation's first successful silver mill begins operation near Virginia City, Nevada.
In 1919 The Green Bay Packers football team is established.
In 1929 Babe Ruth hits his 500th homerun.
In 1933 A world record is set when the temperature reaches 136 degrees Fahrenheit at San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
In 1987 Actress Clara Peller, "Where's The Beef!," dies at age 86.

Monday August 10th, 2009

2009-08-10T03:50:00.003-04:00

Elvis Week -- August 8-16

20 Things You Should Know About the King:

1. Even in the south, Elvis was a pretty strange name. "The first time I heard it, I said 'Weird name,'" recalls Scotty Moore, who played guitar at Presley's first recording session at Sam Phillip's Sun Records. "Sam's secretary wrote it down for me."
2. Elvis had an amazing memory. He'd hear songs on the radio and then sing them immediately. "It seemed like he knew every song in the world," Moore says. "Country, pop, R&B. Elvis had a sponge for a brain when it came to lyrics."
3. He was very polite. "He was always taught manners," Sam Phillips says. "His mother thought there was no reason to treat people except with great respect. If you didn't say 'yessir' and 'nosir', that was a cardinal sin."
4. But you wouldn't like him when he was angry. "He was real slow to anger," Phillips says. "But once he was angered pound for pound I don't know of a person who was stronger. I remember one time at the gas station out the back of the Peabody Hotel. This one person who didn't like his long sideburns wouldn't leave him alone. Elvis had him down on the concrete in no time flat."
5. Colonel Tom Parker really was a colonel. Kind of. Presley's legendary manager was given an honorary colonel's commission in October 1948 by Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis. Parker did serve in the U.S. Army in 1930 and 1931, but he didn't attain the rank of colonel. (Parker wasn't his real name, either.)
6. Elvis's gold suit was the genuine article. The colonel had it designed for him for the opening date of a 10-city tour in 1957. It was made by famous Hollywood tailor Nudie Cohen and cost $2,500. During the show, Elvis fell to his knees and left a pile of gold leaf on the stage. Afterward, a distraught Parker begged him never to do such a move again.
7. He really loved his mother, Gladys. At her funeral in 1958, he tried to jump into her grave. For days afterward, he carried him nightgown around with him.
8. Uncle Sam first got him into drugs. Private Presley was given amphetamine pills by a sergeant in 1958, and he became an epic pill enthusiast. He bought them in quart bottles from the dispensary.
9. But he never got drunk. Ernst Jorgensen, RCA Records' official Presley archivist and historian: "It wasn't like Elvis never drank alcohol as a principle. He just drank very little."
10. He was a very spiritual man. Larry Geller, who became Presley's hairdresser and guru in 1964, introduced him to spirituality. Geller gave him books he would cherish for the rest of his life: Autobiography of a Yogi, The Impersonal Life and Beyond the Himalayas. "I've always known there had to be a purpose for my life," Presley once said, "There's got to be a reason why I was chosen to be Elvis Presley.
11. He nearly became a monk. In March 1965, Presley, driving his RV outside of Flagstaff, Arizona, saw the face of Joseph Stalin in a cloud. "And then it happened," he said. "The face of Stalin turned into the face of Jesus, and every fiver of my being felt it." He decided to enter a monastery. Then he changed his mind and began work on the film Harum Scarum instead.
12. He made 31 movies over 13 years. "Elvis hated most of those later films," says friend and bodyguard Red West. "I mean, in Stay Away, Joe they had him singing to a bull."
13. Elvis could pick hits. But he couldn't write his own songs. "There are exceptions, when he changed arrangements so drastically that he got a writer's credit," Ernst Jorgensen says. "That's what happened on 'Don't Be Cruel' and 'All Shook Up'. But Elvis never thought of himself as a writer."
14. He once slept with the entire chorus line of a French nightclub show. On leave in Paris in 1959, Presley and several of his army friends took the dancers from the Lido nightclub back to their hotel suite. The next afternoon, the Lido's manager called the hotel. He needed the girls back, he insisted, so he could reopen for business that night.
15. He never sold more records in a year than in 1956. That's when the single "Hound Dog" and its B-side, "Don't Be Cruel," sold 4.6 million copies in the United States.
16. And never fewer than he sold in 1967. That year was the nadir of his Hollywood period. "The Easy Come, Easy Go EP never charted," Jorgensen says. "That's when Presley's management realized something had to change. The movie was horrible. The songs were poor and poorly recorded, with bad arrangements. And Elvis didn't sing them particularly well. I'm told the Cokes and burgers during the sessions were OK."
17. He didn't think the Las Vegas comeback was going to work. Sam Phillips went to Presley's opening night in Vegas in July 1968. "He combed his damn hair about 50 times before he went out, and that was a pretty good indication that he was real nervous," Phillips recalls. "he hadn't been on stage for about nine years. But before he got through his opening medley, there was a standing ovation. And then everything was over, baby."
18. Pinball Wizard? Nope. "He loved pinball," Phillips says, "but he liked to cheat a little bit. That's the only thing I ever saw him cheat on.
19. Elvis was an officer of the Memphis police force. Shelby County sheriff Roy Nixon made the King a chief deputy in 1970. He had legal authority, and could have made arrests.
20. "Fat Elvis" wasn't as fat as commonly believed. "He was a lot less overweight than people think," Jorgensen says. "In the Fat Elvis period, the last three years of his career, he was bloated. He had a lot of water in his body.

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
People Different From You and Me!
In Poolesville, Maryland, a young copperhead snake trespassed into a building and delivered several venomous nips to the hand of Sam Pettengill. Usually snakes do not survive such attacks because the victim's first impulse is to kill the attacker. But fortunately for this snake, the building it had wondered into just happened to be a Buddhist temple, and Pettengill therefore had an obligation to help the snake. So, before heading to the hospital for treatment -- which ended up being four cycles of snake antivenin by the way -- he took the snake in his throbbing, increasingly pain-wracked hand, circled a prayer room three times to bless it, and then released it back into the woods. (Washington Post)

Where's the Justice?
This will make you sick. In Paris, Texas, an 18-year-old, severely mentally challenged man was recently sentenced to 100 years in prison for a single act of what really amounted to the childhood sex game of "playing doctor" with a 6-year-old neighbor. The man has an IQ of 47 -- which basically means he's operating at around a 7-year-old level, and there was no coercion or violence involved. Unfortunately, the jury was not given the option to send the man to a care facility in lieu of prison. In fact, his original lawyer was so lame he didn't bother to argue his client's incompetency as a defense because, he said, he thought the man obviously would get probation. But the icing on the cake comes from Lamar County judge Eric Clifford who had the option to punish the man on just one count with four other counts running concurrently. But no! Judge Clifford instead chose to stack the five counts for a total 100 years. Weeks later he listened to a parade of witnesses who begged him to reconsider the sentence, but he refused! (Dallas Morning News)

It's All About the Shoes Baby!
Lawyers will just argue anything won't they? In Palm Beach County, Florida, defense lawyer Michael Robb objected to a courtroom motion to force him to get rid of his well-worn Cole Haan loafers and go buy a new pair. The motion was brought by the plaintiff's lawyer, Bill Bone, who actually complained that he feared jurors would see the holes in the bottoms of Robb's shoes and therefore become unfairly sympathetic to Robb's clients. The motion was denied. Robb later said later that he has a renewed enthusiasm for his shoes. (Palm Beach Post)

Drink That Swine Flu Away!
A lot of Russian soccer fans will be heading to Wales for next month's World Cup qualifying soccer matches. And the Russian government is telling those fans -- to drink whisky -- to ward of the H1N1 swine flu virus! Russia's Health Ministry has issued a public warning against traveling to Britain because of the spread of the H1N1 virus but several hundred fans are expected to go anyway to the September 9th qualifier in Cardiff. So they've issued a statement saying, "We urge our fans to drink a lot of Welsh whisky as a form of disinfection. That should cure all symptoms of the disease." Well, you don't have to ask me twice comrade!

Idiots Rule!
How big of an idiot can you be motorist Zackary Johnson? Our man Zack was arrested in Athens, Georgia, after he pulled over a passing police car to ask the officer whether he had any warrants outstanding against him. After a quick computer check the answer was no -- about the warrants that is -- but he did notice that Zack's driver's license was under suspension -- so he was arrested for driving with a suspended license! (Athens Banner-Herald)

Camels Are Food Now!
Due to an explosion of Australia's camel population, our hump-backed furry friends have now been declared food! Both members of the meat industry and environmentalists are together on this one and are promoting camel meat as a great food source to combat the over-population problem. Slaughter house owner Garry Dann has added camel meat to his production line and says, "I know blokes who all their lives have meat for breakfast, lunch and tea, and they wouldn't know the difference between camel meat and beef!" Yes, I'd like a double-hump with cheese please! (ABC News)

Beware of Attack Cat 'Killer' Kitty Stops Mail
Postal service officials have stopped deliveries to a household, charging that the family's kitten "attacked" a letter carrier. Ken Ridge, 65, and his son Bradley, 30, think that the postal worker's making a monster out of their mouse, named Illy. "Illy is only a kitten and I'm sure she was just playing," says Ken. "It seems some letters were put through the mail slot and the carrier's hand was scratched. "Then we got this letter from the post office warning our playful kitten has been mistaken for some savage beast." But postal officials in London, England, have dug in their claws, insisting that the carrier was seriously slashed and required medical care. They wrote: "Animal attacks are a major cause of injury to our staff." (National Examiner)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Monday Stuff
• If you're keeping score, there are now 34 million Americans on food stamps.
• Within hours of Michael Jackson's death, his family descended on his house, grabbing everything they thought could be of value. Word is that LaToya grabbed a hard-drive containing lots of recorded but previously unreleased songs... including ones he did with Ne-Yo, Akon, and will.i.am.
• Insiders say there are over a hundred recorded, produced and ready to release Michael Jackson songs that will be coming out over the next several years... some recordings going back to the 1980s!
• By the way, part of Neverland Ranch might be dismantled and taken to Las Vegas for a Michael Jackson exhibit.
• In Tulare, California, the city is under fire for shutting down an 8-year-old's lemonade stand... as she was trying to raise money to go to Disneyland.
• Director John Hughes died of a heart attack last week at age 59. Among his credits: "Sixteen Candles", "The Breakfast Club," "Weird Science," 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off", "Home Alone", "Beethoven" and "Trains, Planes and Automobiles."
• Chris Brown has lost his endorsement deal with chewing gum brand Wrigley. after being charged with assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna.
• Hughes movie alum, Molly Ringwald, has been busy with her twins born last month, Roman and Adele.
• Meanwhile, the producers of "American Idol" say it's Simon, Randy and Kara for now... but there most likely will be a 4th judge added.
• Katie Holmes is rumored to be joining the movie, "Sex and the City 2."
• Tom Sizemore has been arrested... again... this time, a domestic violence charge.
• Kate Gosselin sat down with Meredith Viera on the "Today Show" this morning to tell her side of the split with Jon.
• Rihanna, Jay-Z, Kanye West will all be on Jay Leno's first prime time show, September 14th.
• The Washington town of Forks is enjoying a nice boom in tourism, thanks to the "Twilight" books and movies. Among the questions asked by tourists: Is it safe to go camping with the vampire problems in the area?

Resurrect Romance Week
August 10-16. Here are some simple tips for men to become more romantic, according to the book "Living Romantically Everyday."
• Make a list -- Make a list of the special days on the calendar that you celebrate together, such as the day you met, your yearly anniversary, or even the anniversary of your first kiss. On these days make a point to spend some quality time together.
• Toast to her -- Toast each other when you sit down to dinner. It doesn't need to be over bubbly or wine, but even a glass of water or iced tea. Tell her something you love about her and then drink to it!
• Reach out and touch her -- Use the power of touch to make a lasting impression throughout the day.
• Create a photo album -- Take pictures often; don't save the camera for holidays and special occasions. Create a visual scrapbook of your everyday life together.
• Take note of significant things -- Set something aside for her every day. It might be a newspaper article you read during your commute, a link to a web site you came across, or even a story you heard by the office water cooler.
• Be thoughtful -- Do something thoughtful for her every day. Whether it's making her a cup of coffee in the morning, sticking a surprise note in her bag, or leaving her a chocolate "kiss" on her pillow before bedtime.
• Keep up your appearance -- Let her see you at your best. It's ironic that we dress up to meet total strangers but let ourselves go around our nearest and dearest. Most women love to see their men clean-shaven, in great clothes and perhaps wearing a hint of her favorite cologne.
• Tell her about your moods -- Be honest if you are feeling stressed or under the weather. Your woman will appreciate your honesty and will know not to take it personally when you come home in a bad mood.
• Discuss your day -- Sit down together when you get home and relate your daily experiences. The best thing about spending time apart is that it makes you appreciate each other more.

WHEN WOMEN ARE BETTER THAN MEN WHEN . . .
When it's hammer time, bet on a woman to hit the nail on the head more often than a man, says a new study. "Women were about 10% more accurate than men," says study leader Duncan Irschick of the University of Massachusetts. For this skirmish in the war of the sexes, researchers set up a mental plate with sensors to measure force and accuracy. Next, they placed larger and small targets on the plate, representing large and small nails. Then they let the lads and lassies whack away. "Also we filmed how close subjects hammered," says Irschick, "and how close the subject hammered to the target was an index of accuracy." In an odd twist, the men redeemed themselves when the scientists decided to text how well each gender hit nails with the lights out. "Men were about 25% more accurate than women in the dark," says Irschick. "Apparently men and women differ in their ability to perceive objects in light versus dark environments." (National Examiner)

A WOMAN’S SECRETS
According to Women's Health, the top three things the Average Woman keeps a secret about are:

1. The notches on her bedpost
2. The number on her scale
3. The amount of cash she blows on shopping sprees

WHAT YOU SHOULD TALK ABOUT ON YOUR FIRST DATE
According to MSN.com's Dating and Personals section, here are 5 things that you should talk about on your 1st date:

• Whatever you're passionate about. Maybe it's your love of art and culture. Or history. Or tropical bird-watching. Anything, in fact, except celebrities and what's on TV. You want to show that you do things in your spare time that enrich you as a person, not just sit on the sofa with Us Weekly.
• Your domestic genius. It's universally impressive to keep a stylish home, and it's doubly impressive if you're a great cook. Sample segue: "How's that chicken stew you ordered? I got this amazing recipe last summer that I've customized by..."
• Your family values. It can be a big plus to let your date know that your family is important to you, but that they don't run your life. Share a story that describes your family in context ("We always played pranks on birthdays; I was a bit of a ringleader... "), but don't go into anything that makes you sound bitter ("The jerkenstein also known as my father").
• Community service. If you're active in community organizations that help people in any way, this is definitely something to bring up on the first date. Of course, bragging about giving lots of money to charities -- well, that's just showing off.
• Your ability to laugh at yourself. This one's less about saying one particular thing, and more about having a lighthearted tone. It should just be something that shows you're a human with faults and that you can acknowledge those flaws without falling to pieces.

YES OR B.S.
It's Monday, so I made it easier by placing the answers at the end of each statement.
Dick

• The average person can speak 225 words a minute. (Yes)
• Hakuna Matatat was a character in "Star Wars: Revenege of the Sith." (B.S., it's a character in "The Lion King")
• Kevin Coster's "Waterworld" was the highest grossing movie that was never #1 at the box office. (B.S., it was "Dances With Wolves")
• After money, lunch is the top reward employers give their employees? (Yes)
• 13% of Americans say they have called in sick after waking up and discovering they're out of coffee. (Yes)
• 63% of all men keep a razor in their car at all times, just in case they need it. (B.S., they keep cologne)
• Coffee is the most recognized smell in America followed by peanut butter. (Yes)
• Michael Crichton dreamed up the TV series ER. (Yes)
• Bill Clinton's presidential library occupies 90 acres on the West Campus of Texas A&M. (B.S., George Bush's)
• BMW runs the Land Rover line. (Yes)
• Becky, the wheelchair-bound Mattel doll couldn't fit through the door of the Barbie Dream House. (Yes)
• The Central Intelligence Agency, after investing 20 years and $20 million, stopped using psychics to gather info. (Yes)
• Kato Kaelin was the first participant in the O.J. Simpson trial to be featured on the cover of Playgirl. (Yes)
• Wrestler Andre the Giant died after falling 78 feet into the ring when the rigging on his harness malfunctioned. (B.S., Owen Hart, or the "Blue Blazer")
• The Arizona landmark, The Grand Canyon, was misidentified as being in Colorado, on a hastily recalled U.S. stamp. (Yes)
• Danny Bonaduce settled an old grudge by pummeling Donny Osmond in a charity boxing bout. (Yes)
• New York City got 15 people off its welfare rolls by training them to be telephone psychics. (Yes)

BIRTHDAYS
In 1874 Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president (1929-1933)
In 1909 Guitar manufacturer, Leo Fender (Stratocater) [d: 3-21-91]
In 1928 Country singer/actor, Jimmy Dean (Diamonds Are Forever) (81)
In 1928 Singer, Eddie Fisher (Oh My Papa, Lady of Spain) (81)
In 1940 Singer, Bobby Hatfield (Righteous Brothers) [d: 11-5-03]
In 1949 Country singer, Gene Johnson (Diamond Rio) (60)
In 1960 Actor, Antonio Banderas (Desperado, Evita, Mask of Zorro) (49)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1792 During the French Revolution, mobs in Paris, France, attack the palace of Louis XVI. The king was taken into custody, put on trial for treason, and executed the following January.

In 1866 Transatlantic cable is laid - President Buchanan speaks to Queen Victoria.

In 1981 Baseball's Pete Rose tops Stan Musial's National League record of 3630 hits.

In 1995 Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are charged with 11 counts in the Oklahoma City bombing.

Thursday August 6th, 2009

2009-08-06T03:00:00.010-04:00

HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Don't let anyone steal your happiness.

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Save the Rainforests: Pee in the Shower!
The Brazilian environmental group SOS Mata Atlantica has launched a most unusual campaign of TV ads to encourage people to help save the rainforests. What makes it weird is what they're asking folks to do -- pee in the shower! No kidding! They say if a household avoids one flush a day, it can save up to 1,157 gallons of water annually. The ads are running on several TV stations and SOS spokeswoman Adriana Kfouri says they are "a way to be playful about a serious subject." The bizarre ad features cartoon drawings of people from all walks of life-- a trapeze artist, a basketball player, even an alien -- peeing in the shower. Narrated by children's voices, the ad ends with: "Pee in the shower! Save the Atlantic rainforest!" Like you really needed an excuse anyway! (Sky News)

Mona Lisa Latte?
A group of coffee lovers in Australia have recreated Leonardo Da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa out of 3,604 cups of coffee and 564 pints of milk. The different colors needed were created by adding no, little or lots of milk to each cup of black coffee. It took a team of eight people three hours to complete the 20ft by 13ft artwork for The Rocks Aroma Festival in Sydney. Elaine Kelly, from the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority which organized the one-day coffee-lovers event said, "The Mona Lisa has been reproduced so many times in so many different mediums but, as far as we know, never out of coffee. The result was fantastic." (Ananova)
The Mona Lisa Latte 2 Min. Creative Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-RBG68Nimg

Whatever Happened to Lost Dog Flyers?
In Bristol, England, Jonathan Baltesz and his family were desperate to find their 10-year-old black Labrador mix, Simon, who had run away. But rather than posting the usual "Lost Dog" flyers, they came up with a different idea. Jonathan, his wife and kids all urinated into plastic containers and then proceeded to sprinkle the contents at various locations all around their town. The hope was that Simon would detect the scent and follow the trail of urine back home. Unfortunately, so far Simon hasn't returned and we're not sure exactly how the British police feel about this. (Bristol Evening Post)

Toughest Job in the World!
So you think your job is tough? Farah Ahmed Omar of Somalia has got you beat. He was recently named chief of Somalia's navy, which ordinarily would be on the front lines against the throng of pirates operating off the country's coastlines. But what make's Mr. Omar's job so tough is the fact that the Somalian navy is a little short on supplies. They don't have a single boat, nor a single sailor for that matter. And Mr. Omar himself has not been to sea in 23 years. Yet, always the consummate spin doctor, he told reporters he was very optimistic that the piracy could be stopped. (BBC News)

A Man Who Needs Beer
In Belleville, Illinois, Dennis Cretton wasn't about to let a little thing like having a revoked driver's license due to a previous drunk driving conviction keep him from getting the beer he needed. The 49-year-old made a beer run anyway-- to a nearby gas station -- on his yellow riding lawnmower. Unfortunately he was drunk at the time and once again was charged with felony aggravated driving under the influence after neighbors reported he was weaving in and out of traffic on his lawnmower. When deputies tried to stop him, Bretton drove the mower into his home's front yard, with his 12-pack of Milwaukee's Best spilling onto the ground along the way. (Belleville News-Democrat)

Kurt Cobain Memorial Causes Controversy
It's been over 15 years since grunge rock icon Kurt Cobain killed himself, and he's still causing controversy today. A new memorial to Cobain in his hometown of Aberdeen, Washington, has some community members in an uproar. It's a polished granite stone laid into the ground at the KC Riverfront Park which features many quotes from Cobain, including one that reads, "Drugs are bad for you. They will f-- you up." But the F-bomb is clearly spelled out and Aberdeen City Councilman Jerry Mills says, "That is a word that should be done away with. We paint over it every time it's on graffiti. It's inappropriate." The park is also receiving criticism for not going through the proper channels regarding a planned statue for Cobain alongside the bridge. Aberdeen Mayor Bill Simpson says the city's Parks Board will ultimately decide on the fate of the F word in the granite stone.

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Thursday Stuff
• "Let's Make a Deal" is coming back to daytime television. CBS says that an updated version of the show will debut October 5, with Wayne Brady as host.
• An apple a day can keep pounds away, according to a study from Penn State University at State College. People who consumed the fruit before a meal took in 15% fewer calories overall than those who didn't.
• Pink thinks the only way to get celebrities to stop wearing fur is to tell them that it makes them look fat. And so she tells them that.
• The Pussycat Dolls say that rumors about them breaking up aren't true.
• Columbia Pictures got the rights to turn that footage of Michael Jackson's final rehearsals into a movie.
• People with at least one sister are generally more optimistic and ambitious than those without one, suggests a study from the University of Ulster in Magee, Ireland.
• Katy Perry and Snoop Dogg are among those that are set to test their general knowledge on TV after signing up to appear on a special celebrity edition of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" Vanessa Williams and Lauren Conrad will also appear on the show later this month.
• Eddie Van Halen will appear as himself in the season opener of "Two and a Half Men" next month.
• The new "Modest Mouse" video was directed by the late Heath Ledger.

TOP FIVE THINGS PAULA ABDUL PLANS TO DO, NOW THAT SHE'S NOT RETURNING TO AMERICAN IDOL
1. Return to her home planet
2. Trim her bangs
3. Discover a cure for hangnails
4. Join the senior Laker Girls
5. Answer all those voice messages in her head

NO MATTER HOW YOU SAY IT IT’S THE SAME THING
Here's the top 10 most confusing words with the same meaning between Americans and Brits:

1. Cell phone vs. mobile
2. Pantyhose vs. tights
3. Subway vs. tube
4. Soccer vs. football
5. Fanny vs. bottom
6. Suspenders vs. braces
7. Trunk vs. boot
8. Coat vs. jacket
9. Faucet vs. tap
10. Diaper vs. nappy

The top 10 most confusing words with the same meaning between Canadians and Brits:
1. Washroom vs. toilet
2. Chesterfield vs. sofa
3. Entree vs. starter
4. Hydro vs. electricity
5. Runners vs. trainers
6. Serviette vs. napkin
7. Touque vs. beanie hat
8. Knapsack vs. backpack
9. Pogey vs. dole
10. Pants vs. trousers

TAKE A NAP
34% of adults take a daily nap. Asylum.com reports that a Pew Research Center survey found that in the past 24 hours, 34% of U.S. adults have taken a nap. Men are more likely than women to nap and only those who are under age 50 were counted, then both men and women are equally inclined to nap. Napping accelerates once we hit age 80, but all age groups between 18 and 79 have about the same inclination towards snoozing in daylight hours.

THE COST OF A KID
If you think diapers are expensive, note that is only the beginning. It costs a whopping $221,000 to raise a baby to his or her 18th birthday, according to a federal government report issued by the USDA's Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. And that doesn't even count the cost of college, which could effectively double it to about a half-million bucks. And that's for one kid.

AMERICA’S BEST SMALL TOWNS
Money's list of America's best small towns is out and here are the top 10 towns with their populations.

1. Louisville, CO, 18,800
2. Chanhassen, MN, 23,700
3. Papillion, NE, 22,200
4. Middleton, WI, 16,900
5. Milton, MA, 25,400
6. Warren, NJ, 16,100
7. Keller, TX, 38,100
8. Peachtree City, GA, 34,500
9. Lake St. Louis, MO, 13,900
10. Mukilteo, WA, 20,500
11. West Goshen, PA, 8,800
12. Sammamish, WA, 35,200
13. Superior, CO, 10,500
14. Farmington, UT, 16,500
15. Westerville, OH, 35,700
16. Acton, MA, 21,100
17. Newcastle, WA, 9,800
18. Highland Heights, OH, 8,600
19. Hopkinton, MA, 14,000
20. Chaska, MN, 23,900
21. Montville, NJ, 22,300
22. Draper, UT, 38,600
23. Solon, OH, 22,000
24. Mansfield, TX, 44,100
25. Ellisville, MO, 9,200

SINGING IN THE CAR
This summer -- if you want to be a safer driver while you're tooling down the highway with the windows down in the 100 degree heat -- sing while you're cruising. Yes, you may be spending four bucks a gallon, but drivers who sing along to the car radio or CD player are safer drivers, according to a recent survey from the University of Sheffield. Why? Music helps to soothe drivers, making them more relaxed and helping them to feel calmer. 63% of drivers who have not had an accident in four or more years say they listen to music while driving. No matter what type of music you choose, you want to be able to sing along without having to think too hard about it.

The top three best driving tunes:
1. "They Can't Take That Away From Me," by Frank Sinatra
2. "Don't Cha Wanna Ride," by Joss Stone
3. "Canon in D," by Pachelbel

Three tunes to avoid while driving:
1. "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1," by Edward Elgar
2. "Firestarter," by Prodigy
3. "Kim," by Eminem

From a Harris survey conducted for hotwire.com comes this poll of Americans' favorite vacation theme songs. Nearly 2500 people took part.

Here are the results:
• 26% - "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," Otis Redding
• 21% - "Margaritaville," Jimmy Buffett
• 13% - "Kokomo," The Beach Boys
• 10% - "Vacation," The Go Go's
• 10% - "Fly Away," Lenny Kravitz
• 8% - "Holiday," Madonna
• 8% - "Come Sail Away," Styx
• 5% - "Miami," Will Smith

National Underwear Day
Who knew your underwear could be so revealing? Handbag.com, TheSite.org and the Arizona State University have it all figured out:

Women
• High-cut briefs -- Ladies who wear "granny panties" tend to be perfectionists, except when it comes to style. They care most about comfort and function. They are practical people who don't dress to impress.
• Boy shorts or thong -- Women who don these are confident go-getters who enjoy a challenge. They like to show off their curves, are outgoing, and open to new things. They also enjoy not having a panty line when they wear pants. They like the thong because it makes them feel sexy even when they wear jeans, while boy shorts are cute and feminine -- without baring it all.
• The need to match -- Some women must have a matching bra and panty set. These confident women are quite fashion-conscious and enjoy pampering themselves. Some might even call them spoiled or high-maintenance.

Men
• Boxers -- Wearing boxers is all about comfort, but men who prefer boxers are generally laidback, not too flashy, and light-hearted. Boxers are the #1 choice in underwear for men.
• Briefs -- Nicknamed tightie-whities even if they are red or blue or some other color, briefs are worn by men who are inhibited and like the restricted feel of this kind of underwear. Hey guys, it's not uncommon for women to think of you as their little brother when they find out you wear briefs.
• Boxer-briefs -- Can you say the best of both worlds? Men who opt for boxer-briefs are very good at committing in relationships. Hey, they already know how to compromise since they've done it with their underwear!
• Thong -- Men who wear thongs are tremendously outgoing and some are exhibitionists. Check a male thong-wearer's high school yearbook, and you'll no doubt find "Class Clown" under his name.
• No underwear -- Either someone forgot to do the laundry or he is very down-to-earth and embraces a natural way of life.

A Cosmopolitan Web poll asks: "What type of underwear do women like best on men?"
• 45% said boxer briefs
• 40% said boxers
• 11% said low-rise styles
• 4% said briefs

Underwear: A Brief History (from Cosmopolitan):
• 2500 B.C. -- The ancient Egyptians sported what was probably the first ever version of underwear the loincloth.
• 1200s -- During the Middle Ages, the first pull-on underpants were invented. These loose fitting drawers, called braise, tied at the waist and midcalf.
• 1500s -- Codpieces became popular. Shaped to show off a man's goods, these enhancers were often filled out with padding.
• 1800s -- Cotton companies were massed-producing undies like the union suit, a full body style with ranging sleeve lengths.
• 1930s -- Companies began selling what were the first boxers shorts. And in 1934, Jockey debuted Y-vent briefs.
• 1960s -- With the invention of materials like nylon and Lycra, underwear got more comfortable and more colorful.
• 1982 -- Calvin Klein posted a billboard in Times Square of a hot guy in briefs, and it got a lot of people buzzing.
• Today - Men's underwear has really evolved. It now comes in high-tech materials and daring styles, like the man thong.

BIRTHDAYS

In 1876 Dancer, Mata Hari (German spy executed by firing squad in Paris)
In 1903 Anthropologist, Louis Leakey (fossil discoveries) [d: 10-1-72]
In 1942 Singer, B.J. Thomas (Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head) (67)
In 1960 Actor, David Duchovny (Agent Fox Mulder-The X Files) (49)
In 1975 Actress, Charlize Theron (Mighty Joe Young, Reindeer Games) (34)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1927 The Peace Bridge between the U.S. and Canada is dedicated during ceremonies attended by the Prince of Wales and U.S. Vice President Charles Dawes.
In 1933 The comic strip "Alley Oop" begins.
In 1963 The original beach movie, "Beach Party," debuts starring Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.

Wednesday July 5th, 2009

2009-08-05T04:05:00.007-04:00

Goodbye, Norma Jean Day
Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jean Mortenson) died on this day in 1962.

"5 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT MARILYN MONROE."

1. Because her mother was mentally ill, Marilyn grew up in orphanages and with foster parents. She got engaged to her first husband, the neighbor of a family friend, at the tender age of 15, just so she'd have a place to live.
2. Discovered by an Army photographer while working in a WWII aircraft factory inspecting parachutes, Marilyn began modeling at the age of 19. In less than two years, she had appeared on the covers of more than 30 magazines.
3. Needing some money when she was 23, Marilyn took $50 to pose nude. It was those pictures that Hugh Hefner later brought for the very first centerfold of Playboy in 1953. Continuing his Marilyn fixation, Hef has also shelled out for the rights to the burial plot next to hers, so the two will be side-by-side for eternity.
4. Singing her famous breathy rendition of "Happy Birthday" to John F. Kennedy helped get Marilyn fired from her final film, "Something's Got To Give." Instead of serenading the president, she was supposed to be on the set filming. It didn't help that health and emotional problems had caused her to miss two weeks and six days of the movie's first three weeks of shooting.
5. The famous picture of Marilyn on the subway grate flashing her panties is supposedly from the film "The Seven Year Itch." Except in the film, censors would only let her dress blow up to her knees. The shot everyone remembers comes from a publicity stunt where the studio let photographers snap pictures of a recreation of the scene. Reporters got 15 takes.

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
The Recession Ride!
In Essex, Vermont, taxi driver Eric Hagen has come up with an interesting marketing technique to increase business in these tough economic times. There's now a big sign on the back of his cab which reads: "Pay What You Want!" When people ask if he's serious he says absolutely -- and he says nobody has stiffed him yet. His "Recession Rides" taxi service also offers pay-what-you-can bottles of water, Gatorade and soda and a free ride after six paid fares. Most of his transactions are in cash but he's also gotten a CD from a musician and a $10 supermarket card. He only operates Thursday through Sunday nights and when he's not a taxi driver, the 46-year-old Hagen works full time for the American Red Cross. (The Burlington Free Press)

Can't Get Work -- Sue Your College!
In New York City, 27-year-old Trina Thompson is more than a little frustrated that she can't find a job after getting her bachelor's degree in information technology from Monroe College. So she's suing the school -- for her $70,000 in tuition back! She says the Bronx school's Office of Career Advancement hasn't provided her with the leads and career advice it promised. Monroe College spokesman Gary Axelbank says Thompson's lawsuit is completely without merit and insists the college does help its graduates find jobs. (New York Post)

McDonald's Will Never Be the Same!
McDonald's will never be the same. At least not the McDonald's in North Muskegon, Michigan, where Marlene Wickerink and Janet Chapman decided to retire. Their leaving means more than four decades of experience walks out the door with them. While typically McDonald's employees are short term, Wickerink, now 72, joined the team in 1989 after raising two daughters. Chapman, age 65, started there in 1988. Franchise owner Mark Dahlke said, "These two people have been great examples to other crew, showing such great commitments to the customers and having such great work ethics." Chapman said, "I love working for McDonald's. They are good people. I was very shy before working here. This place brought me out." While they'll be missed, there are seven other workers at Dahlke's two area McDonald's locations who are approaching 20 years of service. He says, "We have had extremely low turnover rates. I credit that to running a Christian, family business." (The Muskegon Chronicle)

Two-Year-Old Tennis Star!
Look out Roger Federer -- you've got competition coming -- and he's just a toddler! Little Jonah Ziff of Leicestershire, England, is already being looked at as a future Wimbledon champion after learning to play tennis at the age of two. He's already mastered forehands, backhands and the over-arm serve even though he's still in diapers! He takes lessons four times a week and has beaten players four years older than him. His dad, Jonathan says, "I'm told Jonah is some kind of wonder kid, which is pretty amazing. He just picked up a racket that was lying around and he started whacking a ball against a wall one day." Coach Henry Newball says, "Jonah is obsessed with tennis, which is very unusual for a child his age. He just has natural ability." (Ananova)

My Kid Is Way Smarter Than Your Kid!
In Hampshire, England, Harry Chapple is only four-years-old, but he's already been invited to join Mensa! Harry has already demonstrated an IQ of 144. You've got to have at least 130 to join Mensa. Harry could recite the alphabet backwards by the age of two and already excels at math and memory games. Child psychologist George Crowther, who ran a series of IQ tests on Harry says, "Harry is an exceptional young boy and his ability is very rare. Only 0.1 per cent of people have an IQ over 140." (Ananova)

Just Call Me "Flag Man!"
In India, 67-year-old Guinness Rishi has his sights set on the Guinness World Record Book! And he plans to get there by covering his body with tattoos of every flag in the world. That's 220 flags in all which Rishi says will cover his entire body -- including his private parts! He already sports the six flags of the UK, Canada, India, USA, Cyprus, and the Indian Congress Party on his face. He says, "In the first phase, I believe that I can put 60 tattoos on my head and then we will start working on my body." Rishi, who changed his first name to Guinness in honor of the famous record book, said he is determined to set a new world record even if it means upsetting his wife. He added, "My wife thinks that I'm a crazy guy. She has told me she won't go out in public with me if I go through with this." (Ananova)

Change My Faith!
Because religious competition in the Middle East isn't already exciting enough, television station Kanal T in Istanbul, Turkey, is going ahead with plans for a reality game show this fall in which 10 certified atheists will try to resist persuasion by a priest, a rabbi, a Muslim imam and a Buddhist monk. The exact rules have not been disclosed, but the religious leader who wins by achieving a successful conversion wins an all-expense-paid trip to the holy land of their choice-- the Vatican, Jerusalem, Mecca or Tibet. Not surprisingly, Turkey's Islamic Religious Affairs Directorate has vowed never to co-operate. (Reuters)

Super Model Loves Her Fur
Supermodel Kate Moss and Jamie Hince have fallen out over the model's love of fur. Kate Moss and Jamie Hince have had several furious rows over the model's love of fur, the Daily Mirror claim. Moss is said to have bought a rabbit skin throw and has angered boyfriend Jamie, a vegan, by using it as a bedspread. "Huge conflict has flared up between the pair over what Jamie claims is Kate's disregard for animal welfare," a source claims. "He is a strict vegan who won't even touch cow's milk and is horrified by Kate's insistence on wearing fur and having it around the home. The latest row came after Kate bought this rabbit fur bedspread. Jamie has been moaning incessantly about it, adamant that it makes him feel sick. He thinks wearing dead animals is one thing but sleeping beneath them is entirely another. Their argument ended pretty abruptly with Jamie storming off, calling Kate a 'cow killer'." (Handbag)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Wednesday Stuff
• Posters of President Obama, made up to look like a Heath Ledger style "Joker," have begun popping up in Los Angeles.
• A new study by American and Finish researchers indicate there's a connection between high cholesterol and dementia.
• Michael Douglas' son, Cameron, has been arrested on suspicion of possessing meth.
• Florida Gators football coach Urban Meyer has signed a new six-year, $24 million contract.
• "Heroes" star Ali Larter married her longtime actor boyfriend Hayes MacArthur in an east coast wedding last weekend.
• Mary Lynn Rajskub got married at the Las Vegas Planet Hollywood last weekend to her trainer boyfriend and father of their 1-year-old son. That's Chloe from "24."
• Kara DioGuardi will return as a judge in the next season of "American Idol." Still not sure about Paula... or, as Simon says, "Pauler."
• An Ohio family says they've reached their goal of visiting 52 zoos in the U.S. in 52 weeks! They plan to write a book about their journey.
• The next batch of celebrities competing on "Dancing with the Stars" will be announced on "Good morning, America" August 17th.
• Over 15,000 people have signed an Internet petition asking that Michael Jackson be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
• Britney's back to being a blonde, if you're keeping track.
• Comedian Eddie Izzard is running 1100 miles to raise money for a cause.
• Early word is that this year's hot Halloween costume is Kate Gosselin.
• She's getting a 7-figure salary from "Vanity Fair" but photographer Annie Leibovitz is still said to be in huge financial trouble.
• The "Twilight" book series is starting to break records set by Harry Potter.
• Yes, People magazine got together the cast of "Saved by the Bell," but not Screech. David Dustin is coming out with a "tell all" book about the show, and the rest of the cast didn't want anything to do with him.
• Dave Grohl now has a street named after him in Warren, Ohio.

BASEBALL EXTRAS
The most expensive beer in any Major League Baseball stadium is sold in AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, according to the Team Marketing Report's annual fan cost index. A 20-ounce beer costs $8.75 in the Giants' AT&T Park, higher by 75 cents than any other Major League Baseball team in the U.S. Coming in at number 2 at $8 for a 20-ounce beer is Tampa Bay Rays' Tropicana Field. Boston's Fenway Park is third with $7.25 for a 12-ounce beer. The cheapest beer in a ball park is found at the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field where a 14-ounce beer costs $4. Want more?

• Most expensive average ticket price: New York Yankees, $72.97. Least expensive average ticket price: Arizona Diamondbacks, $14.31.
• Most expensive soft drink price: three-way tie between St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians and Tampa Bay Rays, $5. Least expensive soft drink price: Cincinnati Reds, $1.
• Most expensive hot dog price: three-way tie between Los Angeles Dodgers, Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays, $5. Least expensive hot dog price: Cincinnati Reds, $1.
• Most expensive parking price: Boston Red Sox, $27. Least expensive parking price: Tampa Bay Rays, free.

HAPPINESS IS SIX STEPS AWAY
(National Examiner) Don't worry, be happy, because it is true. Bliss can be achieved. According to scientific research and ancient wisdom, here are the six ways to a life of joy:

1. Believe in yourself -- Studies prove that across all ages and groups, a solid belief in one's own abilities increases satisfaction by 40%, says Dr. David Niven, author of 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People.
2. Beware the focusing effect -- Unhappy people say, "If only I had (fill in the blank), I'd be happy." Content people don't wait for x, y or z to happen before they can enjoy life. They avoid focusing on illusions to happiness.
3. Be wise -- Ancient Greek philosophers say the noblest of pursuits is to live to your highest potential.
4. Be friends -- Studies on people filled with joy show the importance of friendships and spending quality time with others.
5. Be intentional -- Make happiness happen. Happy people examine their lives and make necessary changes to bring themselves more joy.
6. Just be -- Science confirms the correlation between meditation and happiness. An article at Psychology Today.com says people who mediate "were calmer and happier than before."

DANCING IN THE SHEETS
If you want to light a fire under the sheets, start with romance. It may be old-fashioned, but RomanceStuck.com offers these 10 ways:
1. Set a monthly "date night" and stick to it -- Even if it's just dinner and a movie or a candlelit dinner together at home, make time for just the two of you.
2. Say "I love you" every day -- These three small words carry so much meaning, yet they're never said often enough. Make sure that your partner knows you love and appreciate him or her every single day.
3. Put your love in writing -- Nothing gives you warm fuzzies of love like receiving a simple love note or a passionate love letter. Every once in a while take the time to write your sweetie love notes, love poems and love letters.
4. Bring back the spontaneity in your relationship -- Surprise your partner once a month. Try sending her flowers "just because." Buy him two tickets to a game of his favorite sport--and go with him!
5. Get away from it all with a weekend getaway -- Take a romantic weekend away for no reason except to be together. Head to a cabin in the mountains, a local bed and breakfast or a relaxing spa. It doesn't really matter where you go, as long as you go together and leave the interruptions behind.
6. Show your love each and every day -- Give your partner compliments, hold hands, open doors and engage in public displays of affection. It's the little things you do to show your love that always mean the most.
7. Shake up your romantic life with a little creativity -- Create your own love coupon book with one coupon for your partner to redeem each week of the year. Easy to create, these little coupons can be as romantic, sexy or practical as you want. Hint: a mix of all three works best.
8. Have fun together -- Take up a new hobby together. Join a softball team together or take cooking, golf or dancing lessons. You'll not only learn something new, but also you'll have fun with your partner at the same time.
9. Don't forget the little things -- Make him lunch. Paint her toenails. Wash and wax his car. Do her weekly chores. You've heard the phrase that it's the little things that really matter when it comes to showing how much you care. Show you care by doing something nice and unexpected for your partner. It's a practical way to show your love that will be very much appreciated.
10. Get to know your partner better -- Whether you're dating, just married or celebrating your 25th wedding anniversary, there is always more to learn about your partner. Get creative! Buy the book "All About Us" by Philipp Keel. It's filled with questions that will help you document your own love story; set aside time to answer one question each week. Or check out the many other books and resources which feature questions designed to spark discussions that will help you learn more about one another.

BIRTHDAYS

In 1862 John Merrick, known as "The Elephant Man"
In 1930 First man on the moon, Neil Armstrong (Gemini VIII, Apollo XI) (79)
In 1946 Actress, Loni Anderson (WRKP in Cincinnati, Melrose Place) (63)
In 1947 Singer/guitarist, Rick Derringer (Rock 'N Roll Hootchie Koo) (62)
In 1947 Singer/guitarist, Greg Leskin (The Guess Who) (62)
In 1956 Actress, Maureen McCormick (Marcia-The Brady Bunch) (53)
In 1968 Country singer, Terri Clark (41)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1620 The Pilgrims leave England on the "Mayflower."
In 1884 The cornerstone is laid for the Statue of Liberty on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor.
In 1914 The first traffic light goes into operation in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1962 Marilyn Monroe is found dead in the bed of her Los Angeles home. Her death is ruled a "probable suicide" caused by an overdose of sleeping pills. Monroe was 36.

Tuesday August 4th, 2009

2009-08-04T03:00:00.004-04:00

TRUTH IN ADVERTISING
NUFF SAID

TODAY'S TOPICALITY
52 Zoos Later...
The Taviano Family of Columbus, Ohio just wrapped up a 52-week tour of the nation's zoos. That's a new zoo a week and they made their final stop a homecoming of sorts at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Marla Taviano said her husband and three daughters spent weekends traveling in a minivan to different zoos. She said the idea started with a simple desire to see the world on a budget. She now plans to write a book about her family's 22,000-mile journey. The children also plan to write a book from their perspective. (myway.com)

Mayor Shuts Down 50 Cent Card Games at Old Folks Home!
Are you kidding me Mayor Joe Saraceni of Baldwinsville, New York? The good mayor has seen fit to shut down the 50-cent card games being played by seniors at the Canton Woods Senior Center! Now he admits that gambling in itself isn't a crime as long as the stakes are low and no one is skimming money off the top. But he went on to say, "It clearly states in Canton Woods policy that gambling isn't a permissible activity. We received a complaint that gambling was going on." Pinochle players, who met once a week, were betting $1 each that ultimately was divided among the winners. Bridge and pitch players would play for 50 cents. Bingo players, who met up to three times a week, were paying a dime for a card. Needless to say the players are upset including James Clark who said, "I just don't understand why this is an issue. It's really ridiculous."
Couldn't agree with you more Mr. Clark. Why don't you get all your card-playing buddies together to use that new found free time to do everything in your power to keep Mayor Saraceni from getting re-elected. And be sure to let him know that's what you're doing. Betcha 50-cents he'll change his mind. (Syracuse.com)

People Paying To Get Into Jail?
Most people facing jail try everything they can to scrape up enough money to get out. But in Hillsboro, Missouri, 66 otherwise law abiding citizens paid good money to get into jail -- and spend the night. It was actually quite a creative fund raiser held by the Sherriff's department to christen a newly renovated wing of the county jail. Couples paid $90 and individuals $50 and ranged in age from 18 to 82! Don West of Raleigh, N.C. paid his $50 plus round trip air fare for what he called, "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He added, "If I went to jail for real, I'd probably get fired." 66-year-old Joyce Riebel said the opportunity to spend a night in jail was on her "bucket list." Joe and Pam Danklef spent the night in jail to celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. The next morning, breakfast was served at 7 a.m. Unlike real jail, freedom followed at 7:30. (St. Louis Today)

Bank Teller Stops Bank Robber -- Gets Fired!
In Queen Anne, Washington, Jim Nicholson worked as a teller at the Key Bank for two years. We say worked -- because he just got fired -- for stopping a bank robber! It seems the bank has a strict policy of just turning over the cash in these situations. But Jim says his instincts kicked in and instead, threw the bag of cash to the floor, lunged toward the robber and demanded to see a weapon. Surprised, the would-be bank robber backed up and then bolted for the door, with Jim on his heels. Jim then chased the guy for several blocks before knocking him to the ground with the help of a passer-by. They then held him until police arrived. Two days later, Jim was fired! Bank tellers are trained to get robbers out the door as quickly as possible and are advised against being a hero over money that's federally insured. Anne Foster, spokeswoman for Key Bank, declined to comment on Nicholson and his actions. Seattle police and the FBI advise against tellers taking action against robbers. The would-be robber, a 29-year-old transient, has a lengthy criminal history, including convictions for theft and robbery, according to court records. Jim did say he was advised by one police officer to apply to become a cop. (Seattle Times)

Look Out Pennsylvania: The Naked Burglar is Loose!
Police in Abington, Pennsylvania, are looking for the "Naked Burglar!" Two area homes have been burglarized by a naked man who stole a woman's clothes after exposing himself to her. The man was caught on a surveillance camera breaking into an apartment. He was wearing a dark colored shorts and a white sleeveless tank top t-shirt when he entered the building but came out naked. He then fled and burglarized another home nearby. He is described to be in his 30s or 40s, stands 5-8 to 5-10 tall, is thin to medium built and has a dark hair with a thinning top. Oh come on! You can give us a better description than that! We know you can! (AHN News)

Think Twice Before Downloading Music!
Better think twice illegal music downloaders! In New York City, a judge has ordered 25-year-old grad student Joel Tenenbaum to pay a total of $675,000 after he was found guilty of illegally downloading 30 songs from a shared music Web site. Joel pleaded guilty to the charges of downloading and distributing the songs and he'll be paying $22,500 per song to four record labels for willfully infringing on the copyright of the songs by bands, including Green Day, Incubus, Nirvana and Aerosmith. Before you go thinking they were excessively tough on him, you might want to know that the U.S. District Court jury could have ordered him to pay a maximum of $4.5 million in the case. Of course the RIAA, Recording Industry Association of America, issued a statement saying, "We are grateful for the jury's service and their recognition of the impact of illegal downloading on the music community." It is only the second such case to go to trial in the U.S. In July, a woman in Minneapolis was ordered to pay $1.92 million-- $80,000 per song for copyright infringement for sharing 24 songs. (AHN News)

New Bikini World Record Just Missed!
Organizers in Essex, England, had set out to bust the world record for the largest number of women being photographed at once while wearing bikinis. They needed 1,924 participants to beat the current record of 1,923. So the word got out for ladies in their bikinis to meet at the beach at Southend-on-Sea. Sadly they didn't quite make it. Only 42 women showed up. They blamed the weather which had been forecast to be bad, but actually turned out sunny. Yeah, right. So the existing world record-- set in Russia last year by the way-- still stands. (Ananova)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tuesday Stuff
• Mark Wahlberg and his longtime lady love, Rhea Durham, were married over the weekend. They already have three children.
• The next Pirates of the Caribbean movie is set to begin filming next year.
• Latest publicity-seeking feud going: between Eminem and Mariah Carey.
• Jet Blue and United Airlines are using Twitter to fill up their planes and sell seats fast.
• Friday night in Vegas, a tiger from a magic show escaped for a few moments. It wasn't long, but for a couple of minutes, there was a tiger loose on the streets of Las Vegas. Captured, all is well.
• Gwyneth Paltrow says she feels "pure" after surviving for three weeks on pumpkin seeds and coconut water.
• Drew Barrymore is obsessed with dolphins--so much so that she is convinced she was a dolphin in a previous life, reports the National Enquirer.
• Steven Spielberg is going to remake the 1950's Jimmy Stewart classic, "Harvey," the story of a man and his 6-foot tall invisible rabbit.
• Congrats to Rob and Amber of "Survivor" fame, who welcomed Lucia Rose into the world on the 4th of July.
• Country singer Billy Currington was performing his last song on a stage at a fair in Canada over the weekend when a storm hit, causing the stage to collapse. One person died, 60 were injured. Currington was unhurt. But scheduled to take the stage after Billy: Kevin Costner and his band!
• Larry King has opened up his own Twitter account.
• Here's a new acronym for you: TWITS -- Teenage Women in their Thirties women who refuse to grow up)

Back To School Month
Soon the kids will be heading back to school and God bless those teachers who have to put up with them all day. Still, while it's tough being a teacher in 2009, it's still better than it was in 1915! The following is a list of rules that American teachers in 1915, were told to obey.

• You will not marry during the term of your contract.
• You are not to keep company with men.
• You must be home between the hours of 8pm and 6am, unless attending a school function.
• You may not loiter downtown in ice cream stores.
• You may not travel beyond city limits, unless you have the permission" of the chairman of the board.
• You may not ride in a carriage or automobile with any man, unless he is your father or brother.
• You may not smoke cigarettes.
• You must wear bright colors to school.
• You may under no circumstances, dye your hair.
• You must wear at least 2 petticoats.
• Your dresses must not be any shorter than 2 inches above the ankle.

THE FATE OF A MARRIAGE
Couples therapist and author John W. Jacobs, M.D., has found a pattern in the people he counsels: Their expectations of marriage are often so unrealistic that even the strongest of relationships doesn't stand a chance. In this excerpt from his book "All You Need Is Love and Other Lies about Marriage," he lists what he calls the seven lies of marriage:

1. All you need is love
2. I talk all of the time, my spouse just doesn't listen
3. People don't really change
4. Egalitarian marriage is easier than traditional marriage (a marriage or person who believes in the equality of all people)
5. When you marry, you create your own family legacy
6. Children solidify a marriage
7. The sexual revolution has made great sex easier than ever

THE SEXIEST JOBS
Who do you think has the sexiest job? Here's a list from CareerBuilder.com. The 10 Sexiest Jobs:
• Entertainer/Model. Pros: Successful models travel the world, are famous and have huge paychecks. Cons: Competition is fierce and there's a lot of pressure to maintain their looks.
• Cocktail Waitress. Pros: A good cocktail waitress can make a killing on tips alone, especially in an upscale establishment. Cons: They have to deal with drunken customers and they often work in smoke-filled bars and clubs.
• Athlete. Pros: The chance to be famous and internationally adored is pretty nice. Cons: The odds of making it big are slim.
• Firefighter. Pros: They save lives and serve the community. Cons: They risk their lives every day.
• Cowboy. Pros: It's a quiet life away from the city. Cons: They have to work with their hands and outdoors, regardless of the season.
• Nurse. Pros: They care for patients, watch them get better and put a baby in its parents' arms for the first time. Cons: The hours are long; patients and their families can be demanding; and there are plenty of sad events they have to witness, too.
• Artist. Pros: They spend their days being creative and get paid for it. Cons: The paying work that's easiest to find is often boring and doesn't allow artists to express themselves.
• Military Professional. Pros: Job security and good pay. Cons: Risk of dying in war; long-term commitment and willingness to relocate frequently, which means sticking with a job no matter where it takes you.
• Construction Worker. Pros: Their job keeps them in shape and their hard work is often rewarded with a nice salary. Cons: Performing manual labor every day (in all kinds of weather) is tiring and sometimes dangerous.
• TV Anchor/Radio Personality. Pros: They get to be on television and radio and get the news before anybody else. Cons: They can spend years working in small cities before they get a job in a major market.

BIRTHDAYS

In 1912 Architect, Raoul Wallenberg (saved 100,000 WWII Jews) [d: 7-17-47]
In 1921 Hockey player, Maurice Richard (Montreal Canadiens) [d: 2-27-00]
In 1949 Former football player, John Riggins (Jets, Redskins) (59)
In 1955 Actor, Billy Bob Thornton (Primary Colors, Armageddon) (53)
NASCAR's Jeff Gordon turns 38 today. There's a guy who's been around the tracks a few times...

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1693 Dom Perignon introduces champagne.
In 1892 Andrew and Abby Borden are axed to death in their home in Fall River, MA. Sunday school teacher Lizzie Borden, Andrew Borden's daughter from a previous marriage, was accused of the killings, but acquitted at trial.
In 1944 Nazi police arrest 8 people in Amsterdam, including 14-year-old Anne Frank, whose diary, which was published after her death, became a classic depiction of the Holocaust.

Monday August 3rd, 2009

2009-08-03T03:00:00.005-04:00

Welcome to the First Monday in August

DID YOU KNOW THAT AUGUST IS NATIONAL SANDWICH MONTH
Here's some sandwich stats from Redbook Magazine that I found for you:

• 2.19 billion Oscar Mayer bologna sandwiches are eaten each year. That works out to more than 6 million daily, or 69 every second.
• 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are eaten by the average child by the time he graduates from high school.
• 5,440 pounds is the weight of the largest sandwich ever made it was corned beef by Wild Woody's Chill and Grill in Roseville, MI.
• $197 the approximate price of the world's most expensive sandwich, prepared at the Von Essen hotels in England. It's made with Iberico ham, poulet de Bresse, white truffles, quail eggs, semi-dried Italian tomatoes, and 24 hour fermented sourdough bread.
• 41 grams of fat are in an Elvis sandwich which is white bread, butter, smooth peanut butter, and banana. The King himself is reported to have eaten 12 in a single sitting.

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Cats Can Be Good For Your Health
When researchers from the University of Minnesota tracked 4,435 people, ages 30 to 75, for up to 20 years, they found that cat owners were 40% less likely to die of a heart attack than people who lived in feline free households. Researchers can't yet say why, but "it's plausible that cats offer stress relief," says Adnan Qureshi, M.D., a neurological researcher at the university. As for man's best friend, there weren't enough dog owners in the study to determine whether pups also protect your health. No doubt, America's 44.9 million dog owners would attest that they do.

Diet Cheaters
Dieters often turn into gluttons on the weekend. It's a widespread problem for people trying to shrink their waistlines, says researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The year long study also showed that binge weekends "continued to slow weight loss throughout the course of the study," according to its director, Dr. Susan Racette. She recommends packing healthy food if you're out running errands on weekends and eating something healthy before going to parties so you aren't starving when you arrive.

The Truth About Mixed Drinks
Mixing alcoholic drinks with diet soda cuts calories, but you'll get drunk faster. It takes just 21 minutes for half a diet cocktail to leave the stomach and reach the small intestine, where most alcohol is absorbed. The same amount of a non-diet cocktail takes 36 minutes to get to the small intestine, say investigators. "The calories provided by food or a sugary mixer slow the emptying of the stomach, so you get drunk less rapidly," says Dr. Chris Rayner, who headed the study at Australia's Royal Adelaide Hospital. Drinkers who put diet soda in cocktails should have a snack beforehand and drink more slowly.

Watch Out For A Woman With A Sexy Voice
Beware of that sultry voice: A woman's voice sounds sexier when she's at her peak of fertility, according to University at Albany (SUNY) researchers. When men listened to the voices of women at different points in their monthly cycles, they rated the sound of women at peak fertility as most attractive."Hormones throughout the monthly cycle change the quality of a woman's voice, possibly by altering the pitch," says Nate Pipitone, Ph.D.(c). Women are more receptive to sex at the same fertile point in their cycles. (Men's Health)

Cut Down On Salty Snacks
Here's a new reason to cut down on salty snacks. The more sodium kids consume, the more liquid they drink, too often, calorie heavy soda that packs on pounds, researchers discovered. "More than 50% of children's fluid intake is soft drinks," says Graham MacGregor, study co-author and professor of cardiovascular medicine at St. George's, University of London. Limited salt and maintaining a healthy weight both help prevent hypertension and heart disease. To keep kid's daily sodium intake well under the maximum allowable, 2,200 milligrams for kids 9 to 13, cook from scratch whenever possible. When you can't, check the nutrition facts on packages. And keep water on hand to quench children's thirst.

Getting A Perfect Night’s Sleep
Getting seven to eight hours of shut eye is just right. Subjects who slept less or more were likelier to gain 11 pounds over six years. Skimping on sack time decreases the appetite suppressing hormone leptin and increase the appetite stimulating hormone ghrelin. What's more, overindulging means less time moving. (Women's Health)

Your Daily Quota
Daily popcorn snackers may be more likely to hit their quota of whole grains, reports a study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Researchers surveyed more than 15,000 people and found that popcorn poppers consumed an average of 2.5 servings of whole grains per day; non-'corn connoisseurs got .7 servings, the recommended daily allowance is three servings. Let's face it: We snack. But grazing on high fat or sugary treats often comes at the expense of eating fiber rich grains, says Kristin J. Reimers, Ph.D., manager of nutrition for ConAgra Foods. One six-cup serving of dry popcorn such as SmartPop! has about 90 calories and supplies two servings of grains. (Women's Health)

Music Can Make You Stronger
So says a report researchers at Dalhousie University, in Canada. In a recent study, they discovered that people who listened to tunes as they lifted weights experienced significantly greater strengths gains in 4 weeks than lifters who wore noise blocking earplugs. "The music may have reduced people's perception of effort during raining, allowing them to work harder," says the study author, Jo M. Welch, Ph.D. The secret to song selection: Simply download the music you think is most motivational. (Men's Health)

It’s The Smell of Coffee That Can Help
The scent of java may calm your nerves, according to Japanese scientists. In a study on sleep deprived mice, the researchers found that the aroma of hot coffee triggered the production of brain proteins that helped protect rodents' nerve cells from stress related damage. more research is needed to see if the same effect occurs in humans and to see how we might benefit. (Men's Health)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Monday Stuff
• The cast of "Seinfeld" -- Jerry Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander and Michael Richards -- will reunite for the upcoming season finale of Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Larry was a co-creator of "Seinfeld."
• The government is suspending the "Cash for clunkers" program because it was so popular, it's already out of money!
• Rapper Crooked I got his arm tattooed with the name of his new group -- Slaughterhouse -- but either Crooked I or the tattoo artist was spelling challenged and goofed up. Instead of "Slaughter," the artist spelled it "Slaugter."
• Amy Poehler is going to return to "Saturday Night Live" at the beginning of the season to do the "Weekend Update" thing, which will allow her to plug her new sitcom, "Parks and Recreation."
• "Jon and Kate Plus Eight" returns to TV tonight, following a post-divorce hiatus.
• So the whole Michael Jackson kid custody thing appears to have been worked out. Katherine (Michael's mom) gets the kids. Debbie Rowe gets visitation rights, but no money. I like it.
• It turns out that eating walnuts provide a woman's body with the essential omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants and phytosterols that reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to researchers from the Marshall University School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia.
• Women who eat less than 4 ounces of red meat weekly survive longer than those who eat more, The Archives of Internal Medicine asserts.
• Jessica Simpson says she won't be "an Indian giver" and take back the boat that she had bought as a present for her now-ex, Tony Romo.
• The upcoming "G.I. Joe" movie is doing everything it can to battle some bad buzz on the Internet.
• Two Ohio police chiefs were arrested for sneaking into the home of the surrogate mom that delivered twins for Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker. They were allegedly prowling for tabloid material.

THE TOP 10 THINGS THAT WOMEN DO THAT ANNOY MEN
Here are the top ten annoying things women do from AskMen.com:

1. Women that aren’t, pretend to be virtuous
2. Criticize other women
3. Act jealous
4. Become needy
5. Speak in code
6. Invade our personal space
7. Become too emotional
8. Shop till they drop
9. Talk incessantly
10. Use sex as a weapon

THINGS A WOMAN WON’T GIVE A MAN
A woman may give you her body and her heart, but there are parts that she'll never give up. You know, secrets of lovers past, hidden fantasies and unshared longings. Here's a sample of some of those secrets from Mens Health:
• My best friend knows everything.She knows all of your vitals -- from the size of your bank account to the size of your other, um, holdings -- and she knows how both compare with those of every other man I've ever dated.
• I have Googled your ex’s.
• I have discovered your porn stash and your frequently visited porn Web sites and think the things that turn you on are hilarious.
• At the beginning of our relationship, I save all of your voice mails and listen to them (and make my friends listen, too), repeatedly.
• I check out your butt every time you leave the room.
• Even if I insist on paying or splitting the bill on our first date, I'll think you're cheap if you let me.
• When you go away, even for a day, I sleep in your favorite old T-shirt because it smells like you.
• I still think about my ex-boyfriends and compare them to you. Mostly you win. Sometimes not.
• I only appear to have it all together. My true organization (or lack thereof) is revealed in my closet, my makeup bag, my desk files.
• You've made me cry more times than you'll ever know.

SHUT UP OR SQUEAL
Men's Health lists eight situations: Should you shut up or squeal?

• A friend is really bad at his job, and it's obvious he'll be fired -- Squeal! A good friend would tell him, "Dude, I'm hearing things. You'd better talk to the boss." An okay guy deserves a heads-up.
• When drinking, your buddy turns into a jerk. -- Shut up! At first. The next time he hits his limit, leave. He'll give you crap after he sobers up, and you can give him crap right back.
• You're undercharged $100 for something -- Squeal! Come on, you're just asking to be hit by a karma delivery truck.
• Your buddy is financially irresponsible, in debt, and not saving for retirement -- Shut up! No man should ever speak to another about how he spends his money. If your bud ask to borrow 10 grand, however, the gloves come off.
• A co-worker's padding his expenses -- Shut up! He's a sleaze, sure. But it's his sleazy business, and if you turn in clean receipts, some bean counter will eventually compare and catch on. Smile then.
• In a beer-fueled act of lunacy, you kiss your best friend's girl -- Shut up! Except to apologize to her and pray it's never discussed again.
• You hook up two friends. She's into it, but he's cheating on her -- Squeal! To him. "She's my friend, just like you are," you should say. "If you can't do right by her, cut her loose."
• The guy at the body shop offers to up his estimate for the insurance company and says you can split the difference -- Squeal! Say, "No, thanks. Let's play it straight up." The karma delivery truck hits newly repaired cars, too.

YES OR BS
No answers at the ends of these. Get a piece of paper anda pencil or pen and lets see how friggin smart you really are. Hahahahaha . . .
Personally, I really blew this one.

*The answers are at the bottom of this mornings “Dick Reeves Morning Show” blog.

1. Steven Kapoor;s song, "Boom-Shak-A-Lak," was included in the soundtrack for "Dumb and Dumber."
2. Bon Jovi sings, "Renegades Of Funk."
3. Hanson's "MMMBop" stayed at the number one position for 62 weeks.
4. D.J's "band" in "Full House" once sang, "The Sign" by Ace Of Base.
5. Kathleen Turner danced Mary Jane's Last Dance with Tom Petty in the video.
6. Keanu Reeves appeared in Paula Abdul's "Rush, Rush" video.
7. The 1993 video, "Hold My Hand," by Hootie and the Blowfish, began with a girl holding up a placard that said, "Once Upon A Time.
8. Taylor Hanson's full name is Jordan Sparks Hanson.
9. Peabo Bryson And Regina Belle sing "A Whole New World."
10. Lisa Loeb was the only female solo artist to have a #1 hit single without releasing an album.
11. Superman is known as the "Caped Crusader."
12. The New Jersey Devils are a professional basketball team.
13. The state of Hawaii consists of 8 main islands.
14. The Ford Motor Company's answer to Chevrolet's popular Corvette roadster in the 1950s was the Mustang.
15. The woman whom legend (but not fact) credits with designing the first American flag is Barbara Bell.
16. The largest antique ever sold was The London Bridge.
17. Nicknames for the city of Memphis, Tennessee, include "The Metropolis of the New South" and "Derby Town".
18. The pole used in the game of shuffleboard is called a "cue."
19. In the sport of running, there is a race called "sculling."
20. Billy Joel was actually the first celebrity guest on TV's "Sesame Street."

BIRTHDAYS
In 1805 Mathematician, Sir William Rowan Hamilton (Quantum mechanics)
In 1811 Inventor, Elisha Graves Otis (first safe passenger elevator)
In 1900 Journalist, Ernest Pyle (World War II correspondent) [d: 4-18-45]
In 1926 Singer, Tony Bennett (I Left My Heart In San Francisco) (83)
In 1928 Former football coach, Marv Levy (Buffalo Bills) (81)
In 1940 Actor, Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now, American President) (69)
In 1941 Cookbook author/columnist, Martha Stewart (Those Two) (68)
In 1951 Actor, Jay North (TV's Dennis the Menace, Maya, Flintstones) (58)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1492 Columbus sets sail from Palos, Spain, with three ships -- the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria -- on a voyage that would take him to present-day America.
In 1914 Germany declares war on France.
In 1921 Baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis refuses to reinstate the former Chicago White Sox players implicated in the "Black Sox" scandal, even though they were acquitted by a jury.

ANSWERS TO YES OR B.S.
1. Yes
2. B.S. It’s Rage Against the Machine
3. B.S. 13 Weeks
4. Yes
5. B.S. Kim Basinger
6. Yes
7. B.S. “Two Princes” by The Spin Doctors
8. B.S. Jordan Taylor Hanson
9. Yes
10. Yes She had a number 1 hit with the song “Stay”
11. B.S. That would be Batman
12. B.S. They are a professional hockey teak
13. Yes
14. B.S. It was the Thunderbird
15. B.S. Betsy Ross
16. Yes Completed in 1831 sold and moved to Lake Havasu, Arizona in 1968
17. B.S. They are the nicknames for Louisville, Kentucky
18. Yes
19. B.S. That’s in “rowing”
20. B.S. James Earl Jones

Friday July 31st,2009

2009-07-31T03:00:00.002-04:00

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Baby Born With Two Heads!
Almost sounds like a headline from a really bad tabloid but in fact, a 28-year-old woman in the Philippines actually did give birth to a baby with two heads! Doctors said the newborn was in stable condition but probably won't survive. The baby was delivered by cesarean section and the dual head surprised doctors as an ultrasound picture did not clearly show the extra head. The baby's parents, Salvador and Chanteria Arganda, have five other children and no history of twins in their families. (AHN News)

When All Else Fails, Take Off Your Clothes!
A group of Texas librarians are doing all they can to debunk the stereotype and help raise money for damaged libraries. The ladies will be baring their skin and revealing their tattoos in a new calendar to be sold by the Texas Library Association. Librarian Shawne Miksa says it's a way to get people to notice library issues. As the model for November 2010, she shows off Chinese characters on her lower back that mean "wisdom" and "desire." The "Tattooed Ladies of TLA" 18-month calendar is a sequel, if you will, to the successful "Men of Texas Libraries" calendar, which raised $9,000 to help libraries damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. (Texas Library Association)

Now We Have Scooterjacking?
We know about carjacking -- but scooterjacking? In Cincinnati, an 11-year-old boy has been arrested and stands accused of trying to "scooterjack" two younger boys' scooters by threatening them with a gun! Now the gun turned out to be a toy but the father of the two victims, ages 8 and 10, said his sons couldn't tell it was a toy and it was a very frightening experience. The suspect told the boys he was going to take one of their scooters and then chased them away when they ran. The scooterjacker is now being held in a juvenile detention center. (The Cincinnati Enquirer)

Perfume Sends 34 To Hospital!
At first officials were worried that it was carbon monoxide or some other toxic fumes had sickened almost 150 people at a Texas Bank of America call center. Nope -- it was just some bad perfume! 34 people were taken to hospitals, 12 by ambulance, after reporting dizziness and shortness of breath. An additional 110 were treated at the scene. This all started after a co-worker sprayed some perfume. They haven't released any information about the brand of perfume but something tells us it's the kind that is usually sold by the quart. (myway.com)

New Kind of Dog Treat
In Maldon, England, Mark and Michelle Jewell were worried that their dog Bertie was walking strangely and seemed so sick. An x-ray at the vet's quickly diagnosed the problem. Bertie had swallowed not one, but NINE GOLF BALLS! Man, they must be tastier than we thought! Took two-hours worth of surgery to get those balls out. And they also happened to find a bullet that was lodged in the fat around the dog's stomach. Mark and Michelle said they were unaware that Bertie had ever been shot. Yeah -- it was probably by some golfer on the fairways who kept getting his golf balls eaten! (AHN News)

The Sisterhood of the Sudanese Pants!
There calling it a "test court case" in Sudan and it's all about a pair of pants. In this case, a pair of green slacks that United Nations worker Lubna Hussein was arrested for wearing in public! That's a big no-no for women in the Sudan and she now faces 40 lashes! Hussein wore the same green pants to her hearing causing more uproar. The court has to decide whether her status as a U.N. employee gave her legal immunity. Hussein, a former journalist said, "Thousands of women are punished with lashes in Sudan but they stay silent. The law is being used to harass women and I want to expose this." She said a number of other women arrested with her received lashes. But her case was sent for trial when she called in a lawyer. Scores of women, some wearing slacks and jeans, attended the case. Some waved small signs with the slogan "Lashing people is against human rights." (Reuters)

I Only Accidentally Hit His Face Several Times!
In Tampa, Florida, porn star Stormy Daniels is back in the news after a fight with her husband. Police say Daniels came home after 7 p.m., confronted her husband about an unpaid bill and began throwing things in their home. She told officers that she was merely trying to get the car keys that her husband was holding over his head and accidentally hit him in the face-- several times. Her husband was not hurt, but Daniels was arrested anyway for assault. The porn star grabbed national headlines last year when she announced she may run for Congress in Louisiana in 2010. She would be vying against U.S. Sen. David Vitter, who has his own sexual issues after being linked to the high profile D.C. prostitute in 2008. (TampaBay.com)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Friday Stuff
• We told you how Bryce Dallas Howard was taking over as Victoria in the third "Twilight" movie? The actress who originated the role, Rachelle Lefevre, says she was "stunned" and "hurt deeply" by the switch. Didn't know it was coming, according to her.
• A lawsuit is underway in Australia by a guy who claims Men at Work stole their song "Down Under" from a campfire song. Just now?
• Basketball player Shaq made a bet with a friend that he could get into the White House without an appointment. However, he admitted defeat and wrote on Twitter, "The White House wouldn't let me in, whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?"
• "9 to 5" closes on Broadway Labor Day Weekend. Wasn't quite the hit everyone was hoping...
• Tanning beds have now officially been classified as more dangerous than arsenic or mustard gas. International cancer experts with the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, the cancer arm of the World Health Organization, say the ultraviolet radiation from tanning beds is a definite cause of cancer -- just like smoking cigarettes.
• In Britain, X-rays of a dog showed that he had swallowed 9 golf balls!
• Jude Law says he remembers the brief fling he had around Christmas... what he didn't know was that it would turn into him becoming a father for the fourth time. Slow learner.
• Michael Jackson's mother will get custody of the late pop star's three children after reaching a agreement with her son's ex-wife Debbie Rowe, a lawyer for Katherine Jackson told CBS News on Thursday.
• Looks like Mel Gibson is going to be fighting a battery charge filed by a pushy paparazzi that got in Mel's way.
• Gretchen Wilson says she's going to start her own record label: Redneck Records!
• So far, $68.9 million of U.S. government tax money has been spent in the "Cash for Clunkers" program.
• Kenny Chesney says that Jessica Simpson never flirted with him.!

THE WOMEN MEN ARE ATTRACTED TO
Men find thin, seductive women to be the most attractive, according to a study from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. While beauty is skin deep in the eyes of most men, it's in the eye of the beholder for women. That is, while men are turned on by superficial beauty, women are more selective in what they find attractive in the opposite sex. Men defined a woman's beauty by her physical attributes. Women who appeared to be thin and seductive received the highest ratings. Men were also particularly attracted to women who appeared to be confident. Men were very similar to each other in the body type they preferred. Women had a more diverse range of responses than men, with some rating particular men very attractive while other women found the same men not attractive at all. So, if the majority of men prefer thin women, then this may explain why so many women feel pressured to conform to a certain look.

STAY AT HOME MOMS
If stay at home moms were paid in cold, hard cash, they'd earn $117,000 a year. Researchers at Salary.com calculated the figure after evaluating a typical mom's duties as housekeeper, teacher, van driver, psychologist, chef, interior decorator and accountant. The 18,000 women surveyed agree the six-figure salary is right on the money. The study also revealed these women worked an average of 94 hours a week that's 54 hours of overtime.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?
What would you have done differently in life? A new study asked over 35s their biggest regrets and here were a few:

• Twice as many women as men surprisingly wished they had married someone else
• More than one in five married women said that if they could go back in time they would change their husband
• Just 12 per cent of married men, however, admitted picking the wrong wife
• Three in ten told researchers they would like to have gone into a different career
• Over a third wished they had saved more money
• The biggest regrets centred on travel, with 53 per cent wishing they had done more globetrotting before settling down

WHAT BEHAVIOURS MATTER
Cosmopolitan asked readers to rank nice-guy behaviors in order of importance. The results:
• Sticking up for you when someone is being rude
• Walking you to your door after a date
• Picking up the dinner check
• Sending flowers
• Opening the car door
• Helping you put on your coat

BIRTHDAYS
John Frederick – Clifton Springs (60) Farmer Extrordinare – Greetings from your much younger wife Jan and all the J’s in your family. There are four or five whose names all begin with “J”.
John has a great Hay Ride every fall that’s just superb.

Heather Granger – Palmyra (26) Greetings from your fiancé Dick, your Dad and Mom, sister Allison, girlfriend Monica and cats Tiger and Tanzy.

Francine Jackson – Clyde (38) Greetings from your “Boy Toy” Henry, sons Gene and Jeffrey, daughter Holly and cat Pepper.

In 1882 Physicist/inventor, Herbert E. Ives (transmission of pictures)
In 1962 Actor, Wesley Snipes (White Men Can't Jump, Blade, Art Of War) (47)
In 1965 Author, J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter) (44)
In 1966 Actor, Dean Cain (Lois & Clark: New Adventures of Superman) (43)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1498 Christopher Columbus discovers the island of Trinidad.
In 1777 Marquis de Lafayette, a 19-year-old French nobleman, is made a major-general of the Continental Army. Lafayette later played a role in the British defeat at Yorktown.

Thursday July 30th, 2009

2009-07-30T03:00:00.000-04:00

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Thursday Stuff
• Mischa Barton is out of the hospital and planning to get back to work on her show, "The Beautiful Life" soon.
• Paris Hilton is advising other women to not make X-rated tapes just to please their boyfriends. She made the statement in a MTV documentary titled "Paris, Not France," directed by Adria Petty, Tom Petty's daughter, that shows one year in her life.
• Hulk Hogan and his wife Terry have finally come to an agreement on their divorce.
• U.S. swimmer and Beijing Olympics gold medalist Ricky Berens inadvertently bared his tush to the world when his high-tech swimsuit split open during the World Qualifying Championships in Rome.
• While Seattle's experiencing record-high temperatures, folks in Chicago are enjoying one of the coolest summers ever on record.
• Get this. Men who exercise vigorously for at least 30 minutes a day are far less likely to ever develop cancer, according to a study from researchers at the universities of Kuopio and Oulu in Finland. Why? A higher rate of oxygen consumption.
• Jackass star Johnny Knoxville has been ordered by a judge to pay his wife $6,000 a month in child support.
• Madonna has written an article for Israel's biggest daily newspaper called "How My Life Changed."
• Shawn Pyfrom, who plays Andrew, Bree's son, on "Desperate Housewives" won't be back next season. He wants to pursue other things, but promises to make a guest appearance or two.
• Former game show host and longtime animal rights activist Bob Barker has made a personal appeal to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina to stop exhibiting bears in pit-like enclosures at local zoos.
• Bryce Dallas Howard is joining the cast of the "Twilight" movies. In the third movie, she'll take over the role of Victoria.

WOMEN AND THEIR HAIR
When it comes to their hair, more than two-thirds of women prefer it to be straight rather than curly, and nearly half do what it takes on a regular basis to straighten their hair, according to a British poll. Plus, the average woman plunks down almost $70,000 in her lifetime on hair products, styling and coloring, as well as just under two years of her life washing, styling, cutting, coloring, crimping and straightening her hair at home and in salons. In a single day, the typical woman spends about 40 minutes on her hair. The hair color most women prefer is: Brunette (43%), Blonde (33%) and Redhead (12%).

EFFECTIVE WAYS OF TALKING
You can increase your popularity with the opposite sex by using the most effective ways of talking, according to psychiatrist Dr. Jack Chernus. He offers these tips on using your speech to enhance your sex appeal:
• Be direct and honest -- Never fake an interest. Fake people are instantly recognized by others.
• Never have a superior attitude when approaching a person -- If you communicate that you think you're better, you'll be rejected.
• Give sincere compliments -- If you like the way a person looks, dresses or talks, say so.
• Learn to listen and respond to the person you want to attract -- Some people ask a question, then jump in with another question or remark without waiting for the response.
• Think of the person as very special -- Try to get the person to open up and talk about his or her life.
• Don't underplay or overplay your remarks -- Never say, "You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen!" Instead, make a simple straight statement such as "You look very attractive."
• Don't interrogate the person -- If you want to find out something about him, be casual.
• Express your true feelings -- People quickly sense dishonesty and are turned off by it.

EASY TRIVIA
The answers are right at the end of each statement.
Don't ever say I don't love you again! Dick

• Who was the last president of the Soviet Union? (Mikail Gorbachev)
• Who saw the turtleneck he wore at cease-fire talks in Bosnia fetch $5,000 at auction? (Jimmy Carter)
• What congressional award was Dr. Mary Edwards Walker the first woman to receive? (Medal of Honor)
• What modern vehicle was invented to circumvent trench warfare? (The Tank)
• What California city did the last Pony Express ride end in? (Sacramento)
• Who was the first U.S. president to adopt the informal version of his first name? (Jimmy Carter)
• What civil rights leader did Dorothy Parker leave the bulk of her estate to? (Martin Luther King Jr.)
• What did Republicans call the platform they hyped in the 1994 Congressional elections? (The Contract With America)
• What nation issued the five-dollar bill found in Abraham Lincoln's pocket when he was shot? (The Confederate States of America)
• What comic twosome split in 1956, ten years after teaming up in Atlantic City? (Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis)
• What Jerry Lewis movie was a twisted take on the Jekyll and Hyde story? "The Nutty Professor"
• What's the first word uttered in Citizen Kane? (Rosebud)
• Who has starred in movies by Francis Ford Coppola, Brian De Palma, Sergio Leone and Martin Scorsese? (Robert De Niro)
• What brand of underwear does Marty McFly wear in Back to the Future? (Calvin Klien)
• What movie pairs Tom Hanks and Antonio Banderas as lovers? ("Philadelphia")
• How many Grammy nominations were totaled by the classic LPs Tommy, Layla, What's Goin' On and Blonde on Blonde? (Zero)
• What three-word line is indispensable to Cary Grant impersonators? ("Judy, Judy, Judy")
• Who was the voice behind Woody, the cowboy doll in Toy Story? (Tom Hanks)
• What screen character learned to say "la-dee-dah" growing up in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin? (Annie Hall)
• What screen character did Peter Sellers begin playing after Peter Ustinov declined the job? (Inspector Clouseau)

HIGH-TECH HEALTH TIPS
(Ladies' Home Journal) Protect yourself from annoying little gadget injuries:
• Cell Phone -- Tech trap balancing a cell between your neck and shoulder can put pressure on nerves, cramping your neck muscles and sending pain down your arms. Cradling these small phones strains your neck far more than a regular size phone, says Alan Hedge, Ph.D., director of the Human Factors and Ergonomics program at Cornell University. The Fix - Use the speaker phone or a hands free headset or go cordless with a Bluetooth or similar earpiece.
• Computer Screen -- Tech trap staring at your computer screen for long periods can strain your eyes and give you headaches. You may also get dry eyes from blinking less. The Fix - Place your screen an arm's length away so it's easier to focus, says James Salz, M.D., clinical professor of ophthalmology at USC. If you have to strain to read the screen, get tested for computer glasses. Use OTC eyedrops to relieve stinging eyes and look away from the screen every 20 minutes.
• BlackBerry and PDA -- Tech trap "BlackBerry thumb" is the price you pay for too much texting the tendons that connect thumbs to wrists swell, so it hurts to lift things. Reading the tiny screen can also make distant objects look blurry after a long PDA session. The Fix - Hold your PDA in one hand and type with your opposite pointer finger to give thumbs a break, says Dr. Hedge. If you use it constantly, try an external keyboard. To help eyes, look up often and focus on a spot far away.
• iPod -- Tech trap forthcoming research from the University of Colorado at Boulder and Children's Hospital Boston shows that up to 24 percent of users rock out to their iPods at volumes and for durations that can cause hearing loss. The Fix - The 80/90 rule: "Listen to you MP3 player at full volume for one song or 80 percent volume for 90 minutes," says Brian Fligor, Sc.D., director of diagnostic audiology at Children's Hospital Boston. "To listen all day long, set the volume at 60 percent."
• Laptop -- Tech trap it's a Catch-22: Place the laptop so the screen's at a comfortable height for your neck and shoulders and the keyboard is too high for your wrists. At a good wrist height, bending to read the screen can strain your neck and upper back. The Fix - When you can, place the laptop in a computer docking station and attach an external monitor, mouse and keyboard, says Margot Miller of the American Physical Therapy Association. This gives your laptop the ergonomic comforts of a desktop.
• Wii Sports -- Tech trap nicknamed "Wii-itis," it's the tennis elbow of virtual sports, caused by overextending yourself when you're playing Wii Sports tennis, golf, baseball, bowling or boxing. The Fix - Watch your form. "Technique is just as important with Wii Sports as when you're playing an actual sport," says Dr. Hedge. He suggest warming up with some shoulder shrugs and taking a one to two minute break every 20 minutes. End with a few minutes of stretching.

WEATHER AND “THE AVERAGE GUY”
Men's Health asked the Average Guy how we really feel about everyone's favorite conversation starter, the weather:
• Only a fourth of the AG's grab and umbrella when there's a 100% chance of rain.
• One sixth of the AG's feel compelled to keep checking the forecast throughout the day.
• 75 degrees is the temperature at which the AG wished the Earth's thermostat would stay stuck on.
• Lightening is the AG's favorite weather phenomenon.
• 84% of lightning strike victims are men.
• California has the highest weather related death toll.
• 78% of men have lived through a tornado or hurricane.
• 61% of men's property is uninsured against nature's wrath.
• What the AG hates most about winter is scraping ice off the windshield.
• 17% of car crashes are cased by winter weather.
• 11% of men have taken part in a "polar bear" event at which they dived into a freezing lake or ocean.
• 90% of the "polar bear" participates say they'd do it again.
• 47% of men use freezing temperatures as an excuse to not exercise.
• 3000 pounds is the approximate weight the average guy lifts by shoveling 5 inches of snow off his driveway.
• 1 out of 6 men could care less if they "accidentally" dumped snow onto a neighbor's property.
• 50% of men have "used the fountain pen between their legs" to write their name in the snow.
• If snowed in, the woman the AG would like to have tending his fire is Jessica Biel. Or, failing that, the person he would most like to chill with is his dad, followed by Bill Murray.
• The AG's dream winter scene is surfing under the Hawaiian sun.
• 19% of men say they'd be just as happy lounging outside on a warm day, watching the clouds float by.
• 75% of men would not give up their air conditioner in the summer to date a supermodel.
• 35% of men will not adjust the AC without asking their wife first.
• 80% of women will change the thermostat at will.
• 64% of men believe global warming is a serious problem.
• 3 top actions AGs are taking to help cool the climate:
• recycling trash and buying recycled goods
• using compact fluorescent lightbulbs
• going paperless at the office.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1863 Auto maker, Henry Ford (founded Ford Motor Company)
In 1890 Baseball Hall-of-Famer, Casey Stengel (Yankees) [d: 9-29-75]
In 1941 Singer, Paul Anka (Diana, Puppy Love, You're Having My Baby) (68)
In 1947 Actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger (Terminator, True Lies, Eraser) (62)
In 1956 Actress, Delta Burke (Suzanne-Designing Women, Delta) (53)
In 1956 Law professor, Anita Hill (testified against Clarence Thomas) (53)
In 1963 Actress, Lisa Kudrow (Mad About You, Phoebe Buffay-Friends) (46)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1956 "In God We Trust" is authorized as the official U.S. slogan.
In 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into law the Medicare Bill which went into effect the following year.
In 1975 Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa mysteriously disappears in Detroit, MI.

Wednesday July 29th, 2009

2009-07-29T03:57:00.007-04:00

WELCOME TO WEDNESDAY!

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Carjackers Wearing Bikinis Now!
It would appear bikinis are the new fashion of choice for carjackers in Mississippi. Police in Southaven arrested a 24-year-old woman, dressed in a bikini, who allegedly approached another woman in her driveway and demanded her car. The woman gave up the car without a fight, asking only for time to remove her young children from inside. Bikini girl then drove the car to an RV business where she told employees she had a gun and demanded money. But given that all she was wearing was a bikini, and certainly didn't appear to have a gun hidden anywhere, nobody believed her so the employees grabbed her and held her until police arrived. She was charged with carjacking and assault and was believed to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Imagine that! (DeSoto Times Today)

That's One Tough Bear!
The black bear that broke into Paul Fischer's home in Boulder County, Colorado, is no longer with us, but he was one tough bear. When Paul's family awoke to find the bear rummaging around their kitchen, Paul fired three rounds of birdshot and a rubber bullet at him. That stunned him enough to give the family a chance to escape the house. When Sherrif's deputies arrived, Sgt. Lance Enholm fired his handgun five times at the bear after determining it was severely wounded. But the bear kept coming at him. So he pulled out his rifle and fired two more shots that finally brought the bear down. Our friends at PETA will be thrilled to hear about this. (Daily Camera)

Don't Sleep in Dumpsters!
Dumpster diving's one thing, but sleeping in a dumpster -- not a good idea. Just ask 52-year-old Kevin Hallaran from Tampa, Florida, who got scooped up by a garbage truck along with the trash. Fortunately, somebody heard Kevin banging on the metal sides of the sanitation truck and yelling for help. And good thing all this all happened before the sanitation department employee activated the truck's compactor which would have most likely killed Kevin. Instead he was rushed to the hospital with minor injuries. (myway.com)

3,000 Tough Guys -- One Winner!
Well the annual Tough Guy Race just went down in England. The 3,000 competitors from around the world had to sign a death waiver before starting the challenge. Actually, this year both men and women participated and had to make it through a field of burning tires, a pond filled with leeches, crawling through narrow tunnels, scaling a 40-foot high wall and more in what is called the world's toughest competition of physical and mental endurance. Tough Guy veteran James Appleton from Cambridge, England was first across the finish line in a time of 1 hour and 39 minutes. He's tougher than you. (Ananova)

Carbonated Milk? Really??
Our friends at Coca-Cola aren't satisfied that your kids enjoy their delicious carbonated soda. They want them drinking carbonated milk too! Yep -- the cola giant is testing a carbonated milk product that contains skimmed milk, cane sugar and fruit flavor in Europe. Called Vio, the 8-ounce drink comes in four flavors: citrus burst, peach mango, tropical colada and very berry. Coke actually launched the product in New York last month and says Vio is a healthy refreshment citing its natural ingredients and calcium and vitamin C. (AHN News)

People Different From Us
38-year-old Jerry Lowery has a strange fetish. He just loves eyewear. So much so that he now stands accused of stealing more than $45,000 worth of eyeglasses from suburban Milwaukee stores because as he told police, he really enjoys being around glasses. But this is serious stuff and the charges carry a maximum penalty of more than 120 years in prison and a $310,000 fine! Prosecutors said Lowery walked into three shops between April and July and said he had a gun. They say he took more than 500 pairs of high-end glasses including Prada and Gucci brands, but didn't take cash. (myway.com)

Come On Mr. Mayor, It's All Just For Fun!
In Barre, Vermont, Mayor Thomas Lauzon got himself talked into participating in a jousting match with padded sticks and helmets that was all "just for fun" at the town's Sunday festival. Unfortunately jousting just for fun also meant the mayor ended up in the emergency room with broken ribs. His opponent was Jeff Blow, chairman of the town's selectboard, who toppled Mayor Lauzon in less than 15 seconds in the first match. The mayor returned the favor with a below-the-belt thrust to beat Blow in the second match. But rather than leave things at a tie, the winner takes all third match found Mayor Lauzon breaking his ribs when he lunged toward Blow and slammed into his pedestal. Ouch! (The Times Argus)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Today’s Stuff
• Gary Oldman let it slip at Comic-Con that the next Batman with Christian Bale will start filming early next year.
• Kim Kardashian has split with New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush. Her spokewoman, Jill Fritzo, confirmed the longtime couple has called it quits. They had dated for two years.
• Cosmopolitan reports only about 10% of people with big smiles in childhood photos wind up getting divorced later in life.
• Octomom Nadya Suleman inked a deal for a reality show in which each of her 14 children will earn $250 a day while filming.
• Applebee's is facing a class-action lawsuit after an E.W. Scripps media investigation showed that it, along with several other chain restaurants, falsely printed calorie and fat information about its so-called "healthy" dishes.
• Simon Cowell has arranged for his protege, Leona Lewis, to get hypnotherapy... to help her with her confidence.
• "Sex and the City" star Kim Cattrall recently appeared on a British reality TV series called "Who Do You Think You Are?," a show that traces celebrities' family tree -- only to learn that her material grandfather was a bigamist.
• Bank of America says it's getting rid of 10% of its branches.
• GM says it's going to drop sponsorship of the Buick open.
• Amy Winehouse is said to be dating Mischa Barton's ex, James Regan.

THE WORRY CURE
(Ladies' Home Journal)

How to put worry behind you? Don't angst over it. If one strategy doesn't work, simply try another:
• Share your fears -- "When you keep your concerns to yourself, they can grown out of proportion," Dr. Hallowell explains. Run your worries by someone you trust and you open yourself up to a different perspective.
• Keep a freak out diary -- "Notice each time you're worrying, write it down and identify what you're afraid of, as well as the outcome you envision," says Dr. Borkovec. Most of the time events play out much better than expected. But if they don't, you'll have the opportunity to examine how well you coped. "Ninety five percent of the time worriers are impressed with their ability to face challenges," he says.
• Set up a worry free zone -- This is another one of Dr. Borkovec's techniques. He suggests choosing a time during the day lunchtime, say and designating it as totally worry free. If you notice any worry during that time, set it aside for later. Over time you can add more hours to your stress free zone. A related technique is to choose one specific time to worry from 5 to 5:30 in the afternoon, for example.
• Get the facts -- Information can ward off panic. If you're nervous about a mole on your forearm, make an appointment to see a dermatologist. It helps to recognize when you're making judgments based on simply worry, not facts, says Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, Ph.D., a psychology professor at Yale University and author of "Women Who Think Too Much." Getting as many of the real facts as you can calms you down. One study found that knowing more details about upcoming surgery reduced patients' anxiety.
• Make a plan -- If past failures keep you up at night, try to let them go. "Whatever happened in the past isn't going to change no matter how much you worry about it. Accept it and move on by coming up with a plan to prevent it from happening again," suggests Dr. Borkovec. This way you assume control over the situation. The more you put yourself in control, the less you'll fruitlessly mull over the what-ifs.
• Breathe deeply -- Since worriers have a hard time staying in the here and now, take deep breaths to plant yourself in the present. Inhale slowly and deeply into your abdomen, not your chest, then focus on exhaling. You can use this technique anywhere to remain calm. Studies show that deep breathing lowers blood pressure and slows down your heart rate.
• Visualize a happy outcome -- If you become anxious while thinking about your yearly mammogram, picture the technician walking into the waiting room to tell you everything is fine. You can dissolve your anxiety just by holding this scenario in your mind's eye.
• Gaze into a crystal ball -- If you insist on looking into the future, Dr. Leahy suggests that you travel through an imaginary time machine and ask yourself: "How will I feel one month after this happens if it happens?" Most worriers who take the mental journey end up saying, "I can't remember what I was even worried about."

An online poll by Ladies' Home Journal ask these two questions about worrying here's what they found:

What do you worry about the most?
• 46 percent said "my job."
• 27 percent said "my weight."
• 18 percent said "my relationships."
• 9 percent said "national security."

What do you do to cope with worrying?
• 33 percent said "make an action plan."
• 25 percent said "exercise."
• 25 percent said "pray."
• 17 percent said "eat a pint of ice cream."

THE HIGHWAY, YOUR WAY
(from Men's Health's The Average Guy)

• 2 is the number of road trips the average guy takes each year
• National Lampoon's Vacation is the movie most men say "best captures the agony of a road trip."
• 30% of men think their old man was a better driver than they'll ever be.
• 33 percent of men say their "fondest road trip" memory is torturing their siblings in the back seat.
• 33 percent of guys say their favorite road trip snack food is beef jerky.
• 20 percent of men would "sooner pee in a bottle" than take the time to pull over at a rest stop.
• 10 percent of men are willing to admit they can't change a flat tire.
• 27 percent of drivers risk blowouts from under inflated tires.
• The "mostly likely and stupidest" reason guys can't see the road is no windshield washer fluid.
• 30 percent of men have "nearly crashed" because they were checking out a hot woman.
• 88 percent of men try to watch DVDs playing in other cars.
• 31 hours, 4 minutes is the current cross-country speed record, from New York to Los Angeles, stopping only to refuel.
• 42 hours is the time it would take to you and a buddy to make the same trip, driving the speed limit.
• The four attractions guys want to visit before hitting Tijuana: The Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, Mt. Rushmore, and Miami Beach.

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD
Believe it or not, a heartfelt pat on the back can make people feel as good as cash in the hand. A study in which researchers used MRI scans to measure activity in the reward center of the brain found that praise lit up the cranial circuity just like a sudden influx of moolah. "We found that seeming different kinds of rewards; a compliment versus money, are biologically coded to the same neural structure," says Dr. Norihiro Sadato, lead researcher at the Japanese National Institute for Psychological Services. In the study, the subjects reaction to winning money in a card game was compared tot he same people being complimented by strangers. Both experiences triggered similar activity in the brain's reward center, showing the value of people being accepted by their peers. "This demonstrates that there is a biological reason why a good reputation is perceived to be a reward," says Sadato. "The need to belong is essential for humans."

CELL PHONES ARE ADDICTING
Cell phones can be as addictive as smoking or gambling, with one in six people hooked on them, according to a new study. Here are more facts from the survey:
• 13% grew irritable if their phone was taken away.
• 14% lied about how much they used them.
• 7% would rather lose a job than give up using their mobile phone.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1796 Inventor, Walter Hunt (fountain pen, safety pin, coal stove)
In 1883 Italian dictator, Benito Mussolini (Fascist leader)
In 1926 Bowling Hall-of-Famer, Don Carter (6-time Bowler of Year) (83)
In 1938 Broadcast journalist, Peter Jennings (ABC) (71)
In 1953 Singer/bassist, Geddy Lee (Rush) (56)
In 1956 Singer, Patti Scialfa (E Street Band) (53)
In 1966 Country singer, Martina McBride (43)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY IN:
In 1588 The English soundly defeat the Spanish Armada in the Battle of Gravelines.
In 1890 Artist Vincent van Gogh dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Auvers, France.
In 1981 Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer in an elaborate wedding ceremony televised worldwide from St. Paul's Cathedral in London.
In 1983 "National Lampoon's Vacation" starring Chevy Chase opens in U.S. theaters.

Tuesday July 28th, 2009

2009-07-28T03:00:00.004-04:00

UNIQUE WEDDING ENTRANCE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Fat Free Swiss Chocolate Is Here!
Rejoice dieting chocolate lovers -- I say rejoice! Swiss chocolatier Barry Callebaut has created a new chocolate bar that he says can be eaten while you diet. That's because it has 90% fewer calories than regular chocolate and is fat free! The only downside is it doesn't melt as easily as regular chocolate so forget about those fat free chocolate dipped strawberries you were thinking about. Called Vulcano -- for some reason -- Callebaut hopes to sell the formula to Cadbury's and Nestle and to mass produce within two years. (Ananova)

Dr. Ice!
A former ice skating champion has become the first person in the world to get a doctorate degree -- in ice skating! Diana Entwistle, from Roxwell, England says, "I decided to study it because I am passionate about figure skating and I want Britain to be good at skating. There is so much science in figure skating and now it is the difference between getting a gold medal and appearing lower down in the leadership table. The sport is advancing and getting to the limits of human capabilities." Her studies concentrated on aerobic fitness and its impact on figure skating and she now has a PhD in ice skating. So call her Dr. Ice! (Ananova)

A Memorable Trip Down the Aisle
Kevin Heinz and Jill Peterson of St. Paul, Minnesota, not only created one of the most memorable trips down the aisle for their wedding guests, the YouTube video of the event has become an internet sensation with over six million hits! The couple danced down the aisle together to the tune of Chris Brown's 2008 song, Forever, and goes on for five full minutes. It's obvious that most of the guests are taken by surprise. The video, posted just a week ago, shows Kevin and Jill enthusiastically dancing towards the altar, followed by their ushers, bridesmaids and groomsmen. Kevin performs a somersault at one point and receives a standing ovation. (Ananova)

Economic Woes Hit the Queen!
While you were worried about finding work and whether or not you'll have a home next month, you can take solace in the fact that Britain's Queen Elizabeth is right in there suffering with you during these tough economic times. Yes, it appears the Queen is going to have to scale back the invite list to her famous summer garden parties this year due to budget cutbacks! The 83-year-old monarch will reportedly hand out "significantly fewer" invitations to her four annual summer soirees next year in a bid to cut costs. A royal source told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper: "I don't see any way around it as these events are becoming more expensive each summer. Her Majesty is adamant that she should continue with all three of the parties, plus the one in Scotland, but I don't see how we can keep having 8,000 people to each one." Oh that poor, dear woman. How can she survive? (AHN News)

America: Not As Technologically Advanced As You Thought!
So it turns out America might not be quite as technologically advanced as you thought. It wasn't until just this year that the new mayor of Muncie, Indiana, Sharon McShurley, insisted that the city change its policy of delivering reports to the department headquarters downtown by dropping them off in fire engines! Mayor McShurley ordered the department to learn how to send reports by e-mail. And the New York Police Department just spent $99,000 on a typewriter repair contract, which they will need given that last year the NYPD bought thousands of new typewriters, both manual and electric, costing the city almost $1 million. This is because the NYPD still is not even close to computerizing some of its daily-use forms, such as property and evidence reports. So the next time you hear a New York police officer complaining about the hours of paperwork he or she's got to do -- you'll know why! (New York Post)

Veterans Administration: Not Good At Math!
Looks like our Veterans Administration is not very good at math. According to the Pentagon, there are only 566 surviving U.S. prisoners of war from the Vietnam era and 21 from the first Gulf War. However, the Veterans Administration has been paying POW disability benefits to 966 and 286 people, respectively according to an investigation done by the Associated Press. Even worse, investigators found that, even though the Pentagon POW list is clearly posted online and easily accessible, the VA does not routinely check it when a veteran applies for POW status. POW claimants always go to the front of the VA disability-application line and receive various other privileges. (MSNBC)

More Not Ready For Prime Time Crime!
In Leeds, England, 21-year-old Christopher Lister had little choice but to plead guilty to a home burglary where he and two pals had attempted to steal a big plasma TV in broad daylight. Problem was that witnesses had no trouble identifying him given that he is 7-feet tall and lives only a few doors down from the crime scene. (Daily Express)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tuesday Stuff
• Mariah Carey says her new album will probably miss the August 31 Grammy deadline, but she' rather get it right than rush it.
• Leann Rimes and her husband, Dean Sheremet, have split. Who could have seen that coming?
• Billy Joel and Elton John had to cancel a second upstate New York concert after Joel contracted a case of the flu.
• Hugh Hefner's former girlfriend, Kendra Wilkinson, inks a book deal to write her memoir, reports People magazine.
• Alexis Cohen, the two-time American Idol contestant who's losing rant went viral, was struck by a car and killed in New Jersey over the weekend. Not necessarily an "accident," according to police.
• Michael Jackson fans are signing online petitions in droves to get the late singer nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
• At Jennifer Lopez's 40th birthday, all the guests -- including Madonna -- has to surrender their cell phones on the way in.
• Justin Timberlake re-opened his renovated, environmentally friendly golf course Saturday. He was the first to play a round at his Mirimichi golf course near Memphis after he spent $16 million renovating it.
• Believe it or not, the Guinea Pig Action film (We never thought we'd say that phrase in our life) "G-Force" took the top spot at the box office away from Harry Potter.

WHAT’S WITH SWEARING
When you stub your toe on a door or slam your thumb with a hammer, what do you yell out? If it's a curse word, your pain will lessen, according to British researchers at Keele University's School of Psychology. "Swearing has been around for centuries and is an almost universal human linguistic phenomenon," says study leader Dr. Richard Stephens. "It taps into emotional brain centers and appears to arise in the right brain, whereas most language production occurs in the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain. Our research shows one potential reason why swearing developed and why it persists." And that reason is it helps alleviate pain.

WOMEN HAVE SLEEP ISSUES
More than half of U.S. women say they sleep well just a few nights a week or less, according to a recent National Sleep Foundation poll. Despite sleep's health benefits, from improved mood to decreased risk of diseases, "it's generally last on a woman's list of priorities," says sleep physiologist Fiona Baker, Ph.D. here's what's keeping women up the hour before they turn in:

• 87% watch TV
• 60% spent on housework
• 37% activities with kids
• 36% activities with other family
• 36% surfing the Web
• 21% on work

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR NEIGHBOUR/YOUR COUNTRY?
More than 75% of Americans think their neighbors have high moral values, but only 55% think as well of the nation as a whole. That's the word from a recent Harris Poll conducted annually to determine the country's "Feel Good Index." Also: 85% felt good about their standard of living and 84% felt good about the city, town, or county in which they live. Only 66% are pleased with their marriage.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1907 Tupperware inventor, Earl S. Tupper [d: 10-5-83]
In 1915 Banderleader/accordian player, Frankie Yankovic [d: 10-14-98]
In 1922 Swiss undersea explorer, Jacques Piccard (bathyscaph Trieste) (87)
In 1929 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, wife of President Kennedy [d: 5-19-94]
In 1948 Actress, Sally Struthers (Gloria-All in the Family) (61)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1586 Sir Thomas Harriot introduces potatoes to Europe.
In 1655 French dramatist and novelist Cyrano de Bergerac dies in Paris.
In 1900 The hamburger is created by Louis Lassing in Connecticut.
In 1931 Congress makes "The Star-Spangled Banner" the National Anthem.
In 1951 Walt Disney's animated film "Alice In Wonderland" is released.

July 27th, 2009

2009-07-27T03:00:00.003-04:00

GOOD MORNING!

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
SINGLE MOM BABY BOOM
America has been hit by a baby boom among single mothers, says a U.S. government report. Unwed mothers account for about 40 percent of the births in the U.S., say statisticians with the Centers for Disease Control. The figures include teens like Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's teen daughter Bristol, who delivered son Tripp just after she turned 18, and grownups like actress Minnie Driver, who delivered son Henry at 37. But the vast majority of single moms turn out to be women in their early 20s, says Stephanie J. Ventura, a top numbers cruncher at the CDC. Ventura analyzed nearly three decades of birth data. From 1980 to 2007, the percentage of single mom births leaped from 18 percent to 40 percent. From 2002 to 2007 alone, unwed births increased by 26 percent. "The whole thing about social disapproval pretty much evaporated in the past 10 to 15 years," explains Ventura. And Laura Lindberg, a senior researcher with the Guttmacher Institute in New York City, adds: "What we have is a changing definition of family." (National Examiner)

IT’S AN ALL NEW AND IMPROVED ICE CREAM
Drippy, sloppy ice cream is a thing of the past with the invention of a new frozen concoction that doesn't melt. Cold Stone Creamery (CSC) introduced their latest treat called Jell-O pudding ice ream. It's served ice cold but never runs down the sides of a cone. "It was my goal to develop not only a great new flavor but to also change the actual texture of ice cream," explains CSC taste master Ray Karam. "I experimented with dozens of ideas, but it was the taste and texture of pudding I knew would really surprise ice cream aficionados." (Sun)

WEIRD, BUT TRUE BLUE
If you have blue eyes, you are very likely related to every other blue-eyed person on the planet. That's the word from researchers at Copenhagen University in Denmark, who conclude that everyone with blue eyes descends from a single "founder," whose genes mutated. Until then, everyone had brown eyes.

IF YOU’RE NERVOUS AND FRETFUL
According to research from Japan, the thinnest people are those who are nervous and fretful. The study, published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, surveyed more than 30,000 people in northeastern Japan between the ages of 40 and 64 to determine if there is a link between personality and body mass. The researchers took height and weight measurements for each of the participants and gave each a personality test. Led by Masako Kakizaki of Tohoku University, the team found that outgoing people are far more likely than their quieter, worried friends to have a body mass index (or BMI) of more than 25. BMI is a measure of weight in relation to height. When the researchers controlled for other factors, such as smoking, men who were the most extroverted were 1.73 times more likely to be obese than the most introverted people. Meanwhile, extroverted women were 1.53 times more likely to be obese.

VISITING THE EMERGENCY ROOM
More than sledding, hiking or mountain biking, snowboarding results in the most emergency room visits, making it the most dangerous outdoor activity. Here are the top most dangerous outdoor activities based on the number of injuries:

Snowboarding
Sledding
Hiking
Mountain biking, personal watercraft, water skiing, tubing
Fishing
Swimming

The most common injuries were broken bones and sprains, accounting for nearly half of all cases; however, 7% went to the ER with concussions or other serious brain injuries. About half of those injured were young, ranging in age between 10 and 24, and half the injuries were caused by falls. Males were injured at twice the rate of females.

BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU’RE TIRED
A recent study from the University of Alabama shows that mentally or physically working harder when exhausted can lead to heart disease. Researchers studied 80 volunteers who quickly memorizing several meaningless three-letter sequences. As they began, blood pressure and heart rates were monitored. The findings: People with moderate fatigue showed greater blood pressure increases than those with low fatigue. "The implication is that chronic fatigue may pose a health risk under some performance conditions," said Dr. Rex Wright, who headed the study.

SOCIALIZING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
Researchers have noticed that animals and humans who interact frequently with members of their species live longer than those who follow a more hermit like way of life. Now they know why and the discovery could pave the way for new strategies to increase longevity. Studying fruit flies with a mutated gene that leads to early aging and certain age related disease like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, doctors found that high levels of social interaction could override the genetic deficiency and lead to longer, healthier lives. Since the same gene exists in humans, Doctors Chun-Fang Wu and Hongyu Ruan speculate that hanging out frequently with friends could have the same positive effects on people. The scientists are looking at other genes that play a role in aging to see if they, too, can be overridden by social activity.

ORAL HEALTH CARE
Keeping your teeth strong and healthy can dramatically lower your risk of developing a variety of cancers. Researchers discovered that patients with tooth loss were 136% more likely to develop esophageal cancer, 68% more likely to develop head and neck cancer, and 54% more likely to develop lung cancer. Dr. Akio Hiraki, who headed the study, says infections and inflammation resulting from poor oral care plays a role in the development of these cancers.

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Monday Stuff
• Sugarland has canceled three more concerts, in order to give Jennifer Nettles' voice a bit more rest.
• We all know Jon Gosselin is dating Hailey Glassman... but apparently he's also seeing Kate Major, a tabloid reporter for Star magazine, who is now being referred to as "Kate 2.0."
• When women ages 30 to 70 who had all been in a steady relationship for the last month were polled, 36.2% admitted that in the past 30 days they had experienced a tepid sexual desire.
• Meryl Streep is proposing that the Oscars be moved up to January 2nd, so they happen before the Golden Globes and all those other awards shows.
• Brian Austin Green is selling his L.A. home: 4-bedrooms, 3.5 baths and a swimming pool for just $2.395-million. It's a 1920 Tudor style, if that makes a difference.
• A British judge acquitted Amy Winehouse on Friday of assaulting a fan who asked to take her picture.
• Madonna's latest greatest-hits collection will hit stores September 29th. One of the two original singles from that album, "Celebration," will come out August 3.
• The federal minimum wage jumped from $6.55 to $7.25 per hour on Friday.
• Tennis god Roger Federer became the father of twins last Thursday night in Switzerland, Charlene and Myla... or as he puts it, "Love-Love."
• Starbucks opened it's first Coffee boutique store on Friday in Seattle. It's not called a "Starbucks" -- it's "The 15th Avenue Coffee and Tea, inspired by Starbucks" -- not even a Starbucks logo on the front door. The idea is to give it that smaller, neighborhood feel.
• "Christmas Creep" is starting to happen... as anxious retailers can't wait until the Christmas season for sales to pick up, so they're having huge sails now.
• The world's largest telescope is going to be built in Hawaii.

HYBRID DRIVER NEWS
Drivers of hybrid cars not only drive more, but also they get more traffic tickets than drivers of conventional cars, according to a study by Quality Planning. The data on 359,309 vehicles, gleaned from insurance company records in 2007 and 2008, show that while hybrid owners can save on gas, they eat up those savings by driving more for pleasure. Although their commutes are about the same as owners of conventional cars, hybrid owners log up to 25% more mileage on non-work travel -- an average of 10,500 miles over and above their commuting mileage.

IF A MAN WANTS TO IMPRESS A WOMAN
Men, if you want to impress a woman, learn to cook. More women are impressed by a man's cooking ability than the kind of car he owns, according to a survey conducted by Great Britain's Department of Health. Almost one-third of young Britons lied and claimed a precooked, ready-to-eat meal was something they had actually cooked themselves. Women are the worst offenders when it comes to lying about what they cooked. 40% of women had claimed food they bought in a store was homemade, compared with 22% of men. 7% said they regularly claim cooking credit for food they have bought that someone else made. 10% of young Brits have never cooked a meal for themselves because they don't know how to do it.

BRAIN AGING FASTER IF
If you're overweight, your brain may age faster. According to a study from the San Francisco VA Medical Center, being overweight in your 40s and 50s causes a lower level of certain brain chemicals that signal good brain health and function. Without these chemicals, the brain's aging process speeds up, putting you at a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and dementia.

BIRTHDAYS

In 1905 Baseball player/manager, Leo Durocher (Dodgers) [d: 10-7-91]
In 1922 TV producer/writer, Norman Lear (All in the Family) (87)
In 1944 Singer, Bobbie Gentry (Ode to Billy Joe) (65)
In 1948 U.S. figure skater, Peggy Fleming (Olympic-Gold-1968) (61)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY

In 1940 The cartoon character Bugs Bunny makes his official debut in the Warner Brothers animated short "A Wild Hare."

In 1974 The House Judiciary Committee votes, 27-11, to recommend President Richard Nixon's impeachment on charges of obstructing justice in the Watergate case.

In 2003 Comedian/actor Bob Hope dies of pneumonia, only 2 months after his 100th birthday.

Friday July 24th, 2009

2009-07-24T03:00:00.000-04:00

CLICK AND LISTEN
TODAY’S

TOPICALITY
Ambidextrous Holes-In-One
Ed Platzer of Bowling Green has done what very, very few people have or will ever do. He hit two holes-in-one on the golf course -- one left handed and one right handed! 15 years ago Ed, who says he's not really much of a golfer, hit a right-handed hole in one. Four years ago, he started playing left-handed and now has hit a lefty ace! The United States Golf Register tracks holes-in-one and said it couldn't find anyone who has matched Ed's achievement in its database that covers the last 13 years. (The Sentinel-Tribune)

Is That a Runway or a Highway?
I-95 near Edgewater, Florida became a makeshift runway when the pilot of a small plane not only landed on the interstate, but then took off again a short while later! The 61-year-old pilot, Glenn Wade, said he began having engine problems with his 1972 Grumman plane around 7 p.m. and decided to land on the highway after a finding a stretch with no cars. The plane was moved to a shoulder and all lanes of the Interstate remained open while Wade and another pilot inspected it. After they determined it was safe to fly, troopers blocked traffic on the interstate around 8:45 p.m. to allow the plane to taxi and take off. (myway.com)

Bee My Bride?
It was a beautiful Chinese wedding and the bride wore -- bees! And so did the groom! When Li Wenhua and Yan Hongxia of China exchanged their "I dos," they did so wearing thousands of living and buzzing bees! Both are enthusiastic beekeepers and work for the Chinese forestry commission. And despite the fact that most of their wedding guests kept their distance, the couple says they were delighted with their unique wedding clothes. Li said he was hoping to also set a new world record for the biggest coat of bees so he put a queen bee on himself and his bride. But by the time the ceremony started, they were both covered with so many thousands of bees it was impossible to count. Yan added, "It was an amazing feeling to have a carpet of living bees moving over my body. I have always loved bees but this was a totally new experience." (Ananova)

35 Million Joints Confiscated!
It's the biggest drug bust in Middle East history as a British Ship seized 12.4 tons of marijuana off the coast of Oman. That's enough to create 35 million joints with a street value of $70 million! The only bigger drug busts on record are in Turkey in 2001 when 19 tons were seized, and in Spain where police rounded up 15.8 tons. A British law enforcement task force seized the pot from a suspicious cargo vessel on which they found a secret compartment below deck. They believe the drugs were headed for Europe but they won't be now. All 12.4 tons were later destroyed. (AHN News)

Man Loses His Job Over Wife's Career Choice!
The town council of Fort Myers Beach has fired Town Manager Scott Janke because they don't like his wife. More specifically they don't like what his wife does for a living. Turns out she's a porn star so the council called an emergency meeting and fired Janke "without cause" after a unanimous vote. According to the publication Adult Industry News, Janke's wife, Anabela Mota Janke is also Jazella Moore, star of adult flicks and Web sites. Janke said, "Our heads are held high. We have nothing to be embarrassed about. We've done nothing wrong." He will receive a severance package worth six months' salary, plus health benefits. Amazingly, council member Jo List said she was not passing judgment on Mr. Janke or his wife's lifestyle and said, "My vote was a vote on the credibility and livelihood of our town. I do know her, and I have nothing bad to say about her. She's always been very pleasant and very interested in what her husband does for the town. It's not a statement on what she does and not a judgment on what she chose as a career." Really? Seriously? Because that's exactly what it sounds like it is. Bet if she was a school teacher you wouldn't be having any emergency meetings!! What a hypocrite! (Naples News)

Burger Ads Too Racy for Carolina!
Yet another television commercial for the burger chain Hardee's has been rejected as too racy for North Carolina's conservative consumers. The new adds promote Hardee's new "Biscuit Holes" and customers doing taste tests in the commercials are asked to choose between the "A-holes" and the "B-holes." Boddie-Noell Enterprises, which owns nearly 350 Hardee's, is refusing to run the ads, which also are drawing fire from the Parents Television Council. Hardee's has drawn criticism for its ads before, including ones that featured socialite Paris Hilton in a bathing suit eating a massive burger. In the meantime, the new ads are being aired in select markets only after 9 p.m. (The News & Observer)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Friday Stuff
• The week before her new CD drops September 1st, ABC will have a one-hour special with Whitney Houston.
• Bradd Pitt has told German Magazine that he doesn’t believe that there is a God, but he does believe in wide beds
• Nearly half of U.S. women say they'd rather give up sex for two weeks than go without the Internet for the same period, a Harris Interactive poll finds.
• The new musical "The Addams Family," starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia, will open April 8th on Broadway.
• Both the official autopsy and the private one done on Michael Jackson are complete. The results will be announced next week.
• "So You Think You Can Dance" judge Nigel Lythgoe said he would "certainly consider" having Paula Abdul as a judge if she can't reach an agreement with "American Idol."
• Actor Deezer D, who played Nurse Malik McGrath on "ER," has been discharged from a Los Angeles hospital just days after undergoing major heart surgery.
• Getting to bed 30 minutes earlier and waking up 30 minutes later than normal can help you make better food choices.
• When Simon Cowell celebrates his 50th birthday this weekend, he'll be joined at the party by 17 of his ex-girlfriends. Ex-girlfriend Jackie Claire thought of that idea and is hosting the party.
• If he's into you, you'll know it. Women tend to send vague signals until we make up our mind, but men give a date sure signs of interest or not from the outset, finds a study from Indiana University at Bloomington.
• Les Lye, who played all the adult roles in "You Can't Do That on Television" has died at the age of 84.
• The annual Santa Claus World Congress is meeting this week in Copenhagen.

BACK TO SCHOOL SALE-ADS ARE STARTING TO SHOW UP
Personal Shopper recently surveyed two-thousand parents to find out their take on back-to-school shopping. Here's a look at the results:

• 64% say back-to-school shopping is time-consuming or stressful
• 20% dread back-to-school shopping
• 61% find sticking to their budget to be the biggest challenge of back-to-school shopping
• 70% say quote, "getting deals on the items both they and their kids want" would make the experience more enjoyable
• 29% say they have to keep their kids focused on buying the things they need to go back to school
• 20% go to the mall more than once or visit than one store to buy necessary items
• 18% don't have enough time to finish back-to-school shopping
• 17% argue with their children while shopping
• 15% can't find the brands their children want

DO YOU SEEM TO GET TIRED AT WORK
One-third of workers say they have become very sleepy at work or actually fallen asleep on the job, according to the National Sleep Foundation's "Sleep in America" poll. The problem is so rampant that some companies have given in and now offer employees a nap room. Why? We need at least seven to nine hours of sleep a night for optimal health. And we're not getting even close to that. On average, we sleep six hours and 40 minutes a night and work nine hours and 28 minutes a day. The Sleep Foundation estimates that tired workers cost companies $100 million annually in lost productivity, increased health care costs and absenteeism.

DO YOU WEAR SUNGLASSES? HERE ARE SOME SUNGLASSES STATS
Here are some shades stats from Redbook:
• 1929 was the year the first pair of sunglasses as we know them was sold to the public, by Sam Foster on the boardwalk on Atlantic City, NJ
• 52% of Americans regularly use two or more pairs of sunglasses
• 30% of children wear sunglasses when outdoors
• Over $2 billion is the amount of money Americans spent on sunglasses last year

WHAT CAN MOST LIKELY MAKE A MARRIAGE FAIL
What do you think is most likely to make a marriage fail? According to a new a study by researchers from the Australian National University, here are some of the worst things for marriage:
• A husband who is nine or more years older than his wife is twice as likely to get divorced, as are husbands who get married before they turn 25.
• One-fifth of couples who have kids before marriage -- either from a previous relationship or in the same relationship -- having separated compared to just nine percent of couples without children born before marriage.
• Women who want children much more than their partners are also more likely to get a divorce.
• 16 percent of men and women whose parents ever separated or divorced experienced marital separation themselves compared to 10 percent for those whose parents did not separate.
• Partners who are on their second or third marriage are 90 percent more likely to separate than spouses who are both in their first marriage.
• Couples where one partner, and not the other, smokes are also more likely to have a relationship that ends in failure.

WHICH APPLIANCE CAN'T YOU LIVE WITHOUT?
Woman's Day asked their readers and the survey said:

• 31% said they can't live without their coffee maker
• 30% said they can't live without their dishwasher
• 26% said they can't live without their hair dryer
• 13%said they can't live without their iron

RIGHT THING WRONG TIME
There is a right and wrong time for everything. Here's the best times to do things, compiled by abcnews.com:

• Work on your most important tasks in the morning. That's because, several hours before you wake up, your body produces the stress hormone cortisol, which increases your blood sugar and give you the energy you need to accomplish difficult tasks.
• Make a presentation at 10am. That's because your voice will be well- rested. Make sure you drink water, and not milk, before you plan on doing a lot of speaking, because milk can increase mucus, which is not good for your voice.
• Take a short break and stretch three times a day. At 10:30 in the morning and 2:30 and 4:30 in the afternoon, do stretching exercises, to loosen up your back and shoulder muscles.
• Use the late-morning hours to think and strategize big decisions. At this time of the day, your body temperature is rising, which means you're more alert and your brain can process information better. Seduce someone at 11:55am. This is when their mood should be at its best, so ask some you're interested in, or already seeing, out to lunch at this time.
• Have a healthy protein snack, like nuts, around 2pm. This will increase your energy and keep you fill until dinner, so you won't be sneaking a candy bar later in the afternoon.
• Have a cup of coffee or take a walk at 3:00 in the afternoon, to help stay more alert.
• Make and return calls at 3:30pm. The caffeine you drank at 3:00 should be kicking in right about now, and talking with people will help revive and stimulate your mood so you can finish the day on an "up" note.

TOP FIVE SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE PICKED THE WRONG DENTIST

1. Sign in lobby, "Novocain is for sissies"
2. Offers accidental death policy with every checkup
3. Asks you to rinse and then spit on him
4. Since he's fond of the outdoors, he prefers to use garden tools
5. Likes to use Silly Putty for fillings

BIRTHDAYS
In 1894 Actor, Walter Brennan (The Real McCoys, Guns of Will Sonnett)
In 1924 Actress, Estelle Getty (Sophia Petrillo-Golden Girls) [d: 7-22-08]
In 1967 Actor, Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani-Friends, Lost In Space) (42)
In 1978 Louise Brown, world's first "test tube baby" (31)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1814 The Americans defeat the British in the Battle of Niagara Falls.
In 1952 Puerto Rico becomes a self-governing commonwealth of the U.S.
In 1966 New York Yankee manager Casey Stengel is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1969 A week after the Chappaquiddick accident that claimed the life of Mary Jo Kopechne, Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) pleads guilty to a charge of leaving the scene of an accident.

2009-07-23T03:00:00.005-04:00

What's important isn't WHERE YOU READ,
"Butt" THAT YOU READ!

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Some Retired Colonels Say The Stupidest Things
Have you heard, Despicable former U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters, who has never commanded in war time, went on Fox News this week to suggest that if that a missing U.S. soldier in Afghanistan just willingly walked away from his post, "the Taliban can save us a lot of legal hassles and legal bills," by, apparently, just killing the soldier. A day later, he went back on Fox, and while clarifying that he never commanded in wartime, Peters said, "I don't want to be a leftist and claim things I didn't do." What the hell are you talking about, Peters? Who made false claims? This isn't about anyone else but a despicable dirt-bag named Ralph Peters wishing death on a U.S. soldier in combat. Please do everybody on the left and right a favor and just shut your ugly, hateful, stupid, treasonous mouth!

Do You Kelly Hilderbrandt Take Kelly Hilderbrandt...
This October, at the Lighthouse Point Yacht & Racquet Club in South Florida, there will be a wedding you'll probably be hearing a lot about. The bride and groom both have the exact same name! 20-year-old Kelly Katrina Hildebrandt will take her wedding vows with 24-year-old Kelly Carl Hildebrandt and here's the kicker -- they met on Facebook! Kelly -- the girl -- says, "He is just everything that I've ever looked for. There's always been certain qualities that a guy has to have. And he has all the ones I could think of and more." They met after Kelly -- the girl -- got bored one night and plugged her name into the Facebook search engine just to see how many others shared her name. At the time the only match was Kelly Hildebrandt -- the boy-- of Lubbock, Texas. So she sent him a message. For the next three months the two exchanged e-mails which led to phone calls which led to an in-person meeting where Kelly -- the boy -- says he fell head over heels. Just too make sure none of their guests think there's a mistake on the wedding invitations, the couple included their middle names. And you'll be happy to know they have already decided none of their children will be named Kelly. (myway.com)

We're Number One... In Spam!
Well America can put another "#1 in the World" feather in its cap. Unfortunately this time it's for something we might not be so proud of. Apparently the U.S. is number one in sending SPAM! Yep, almost one of every six spam emails -- everything from people from Africa offering to give you money to all that cheap Viagra you can get online -- comes from computers in the U.S. 15.6% of global spam traffic came from America. Brazil was second with 11.1%. The study was done by a company called Sophos who also reported that Russia had the biggest reduction in producing Spam. They were ranked second place in 2008 but dropped to ninth place with 3.2 percent. Our Polish friends had the greatest increase in spam production up 4.2% over last year and moving them up to sixth place on the list. (AHN News)

Will Ferrell Sunscreen Is a Hit!
You may not even know but actor Will Ferrell has his own sunscreen line! No kidding. Called "WILLPOWERED," the product was designed to help raise money for the charity Cancer For College. And he just sold his 10,000th bottle! The line features 3 kinds of sunscreen: Sexy Hot Tan, Sun Stroke and Forbidden Fruit. All of the bottles are priced at $11.99 and have an SPF of 30. Cancer For College provides scholarships to cancer survivors. Last year, the charity raised over $250,000 to help cancer survivors reach their dream of higher education. (AHN News)

Naked Cowboy Runs For Mayor
Maybe you've heard about local New York City celebrity Robert Burck. He's better known as "The Naked Cowboy" and is famous for entertaining tourists around Time Square dressed in nothing more than a cowboy hat, boots, and a pair of white underpants emblazoned with the words Naked Cowboy. He also wears his guitar so he can sing for folks passing by and is known to make about $1,000 a day in donations. And now he has his sights set on Mayor Michael Bloomberg and plans to run for mayor of the big apple. Bloomberg has already spent millions of dollars on his campaign, including on a blizzard of television commercials in his bid for a third term as mayor. Burck tells voters, "No one knows how to do more with less than yours truly. And that's the kind of thinking I plan on sharing with my fellow New Yorkers when you elect me." (Ananova)

Drunk Yoga: A Big Internet Hit!
A new blog featuring pictures of drunk people in yoga positions has become a huge internet hit! It shows pictures of passed out drunks who -- not intentionally -- appear to be in various yoga positions. The pictures are juxtaposed next to a real yoga practitioner doing the actual yoga position along with the name of the position and a description of its benefits. Drunks are pictured sprawled across a bench, bending backwards over a chair and kneeling face down under a bus-stop billboard. And internet users just can't seem to get enough of it. Just put in drunk yoga in a search engine and you'll see the pictures everywhere! (Ananova)

Hurry Up My Order Or I'll Shoot!
29-year-old Denver police officer Derrick Curtis Saunders probably won't be a lawman much longer. He's facing felony menacing and weapons charges after he allegedly pointed his service revolver at a McDonald's employee to speed up his order. A Mickey D's employee told investigators that two officers were waiting for their order at the drive-through window in the early morning hours when Saunders grew impatient and pulled a weapon. Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson said Saunders has been suspended with pay during the investigation, but he would be put on unpaid leave once the department is formally notified of the charges. (Denver Post)

You Can Beat City Hall!
Our hats are off to Ms. Dyker Neyland of Irving, Texas, for becoming one of the very few parents to ever successfully challenge a school board's restrictive dress code! Ms. Neyland persuaded the board that her 7-year-old daughter should indeed be able to dress with her shirttail untucked due to her devout religious modesty as prescribed in the Bible by 1 Timothy 2:9. She says the untucked shirttail provides additional coverage for her daughter's backside and that the bible should take precedence over the district's no-untucked-shirttails rule. They agreed. (Dallas Morning News)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Thursday Stuff
• Hailey Glassman says she's dating Jon Gosselin, but they're not engaged, as tabloids report.
• Gidget the Chihuahua, whose Taco Bell commercials made her a star from 1997 to 2000, has died. She was 15.
• Eddie Cibrian's wife says she's been keeping tabs of her husband's "secret" meetings with Leann Rimes and she's had enough.
• A new book by former Washington Post reporter Ronald Kessler details how Jenna and Barbara Bush gave the Secret Service "fits" during George W.Bush's presidency and could prove potentially embarrassing for them now.
• Did you know the Bush twins are still receiving secret service protection? Their dad signed a special bill before leaving office. Bill Clinton did the same for Chelsea.
• Former Miss California Carrie Prejean has landed a book deal. Her story will be out in November.
• The massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck New Zealand on July 16 did minimal damage since the epicenter was in the remote southwest Fiordland region of the South Island. But it did leave a lasting mark: It actually moved New Zealand closer to Australia.
• Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles canceled two shows over the weekend and is on "voice rest."
• "Astro Boy" will blast into theaters October 23rd.
• Stephen Baldwin, brother of Emmy winner and "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin, filed for bankruptcy in New York on Tuesday. The 43-year-old actor claims he owes more than $2.3 million.
• Looks like Nicholas Cage is going to play the villain in the new "Green Hornet" movie.
• J-Lo's husband, Marc Anthony, is now a minority owner of the Miami Dolphins football team.
• If you want to be in on Google Wave, sign up at wave.google.com

A HEFTY SURPRISE
Being slightly overweight can actually help you live longer, according to a 12 year study of 11,326 adults. Researchers discovered that people who were overweight, but not obese, were 17% less likely to die than people of normal weight. "Overweight may not be the problem we thought it was," said Dr. David H. Feeny, co-author of the study at the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland. "Overweight was protective." On the other hand, people who were underweight had a 73% higher risk of dying than normal weight people. This, however, does not mean that normal weight people should start packing on pounds. (National Enquirer)

PRINTING CAN BE BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH
Oh no! Is nothing good for you? Get this -- printing could harm your lungs. One third of laser printers studied emitted ultrafine toner particles that, when inhaled, penetrate the lungs, increasing the risk for respiratory problems and disease, a report in Environmental Science and Technology suggests.

FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS TEXT AND DRIVE
Friends don't let friends text and drive. A recent test by the editors of Car and Driver Magazine revealed that motorists who send text messages or read e-mails pose a bigger danger on the road than those who are legally drunk. For the experiment, the editors simulated surprise accident situations by setting up red lights on car dashes to signal drivers when to hit the brakes. At 70 mph, an editor stopped the car in an average of .54 seconds while clean, sober and focused on driving. When reading an e-mail at 70 mph, the editor took .35 seconds longer to stop and traveled 36 feet farther. And while sending a text message, the editor took .68 seconds to top and traveled 70 feet farther. Then the editor downed some booze until he was legally drunk. Amazingly, driving drunk, the editor took only .04 seconds longer to stop than when he was sober and traveled only 4 feet farther. (National Examiner) Friends don't let friends text and drive. A recent test by the editors of Car and Driver Magazine revealed that motorists who send text messages or read e-mails pose a bigger danger on the road than those who are legally drunk. For the experiment, the editors simulated surprise accident situations by setting up red lights on car dashes to signal drivers when to hit the brakes. At 70 mph, an editor stopped the car in an average of .54 seconds while clean, sober and focused on driving. When reading an e-mail at 70 mph, the editor took .35 seconds longer to stop and traveled 36 feet farther. And while sending a text message, the editor took .68 seconds to top and traveled 70 feet farther. Then the editor downed some booze until he was legally drunk. Amazingly, driving drunk, the editor took only .04 seconds longer to stop than when he was sober and traveled only 4 feet farther. (National Examiner)

FOODS THAT GET TOU GOING AND LIFT YOU UP
Tired of energy boosting drinks to get you going and lift you up? According to a few health experts, here are some natural foods to increase energy and elevate mood. It doesn't take much, and you'll be feeling better and have more energy to take on your next project. Kick-start your day with these 10 mood-lifting foods:

1. Milk
2. Chocolate
3. Whole grain rice or pasta
4. Mackerel
5. Coffee
6. Turkey
7. Liver
8. Blueberries
9. Brazil nuts
10. Any food that tastes good

BIRTHDAYS
In 1892 Haile Selassie, emperor of Ethiopia (1930-74)
In 1961 Actor, Woody Harrelson (Woody-Cheers, People Vs. Larry Flynt) (48)
In 1965 Guitarist/songwriter, Slash (Guns N' Roses) (44)
In 1971 Country singer/fiddler, Alison Krauss (38)
In 1973 Former White House intern/author, Monica Lewinsky (36)
In 1989 Actor, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter & the Sorcer's Stone) (20) That’s in our years not muggle years.

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1904 By some accounts, the first ice-cream cone is made by Charles E. Mences during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, MO.
In 2000 Tiger Woods, at 24, becomes the youngest player to win the career Grand Slam with a record-breaking performance in the British Open.

Tuesday July 21st, 2009

2009-07-21T03:00:00.002-04:00

GOOD MORNING!

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Bellies and Baseball!
The Brooklyn Cyclones, a New York minor league baseball team and affiliate of the Mets, pulled off a most unusual theme night promotion ahead of Sunday night's game. The Cyclones offered a free Lamaze class in center field in the event called "Bellies and Baseball: A Salute to Pregnancy." Other activities included expectant moms running or walking the bases without shoes before the game, women in their third trimesters throwing out ceremonial first pitches and pregnant women singing on the field during the seventh-inning stretch. And the team says any expectant mom who agrees to name her child Brooklyn or Cy gets free season tickets for life. Clearly times are tough in the minor leagues these days (myway.com)

I'll Show You Sis!
In Naples, Florida, harsh words were exchanged between Janelle King and her brother Sandor Martonosy. The fight ended with Janelle telling her big brother that she was moving out of the house they shared. Martonosy was so upset, he decided to take the squabble to a new level -- by having a day-long yard sale and selling all of his sister's belongings. 23-year-old King says, "I have lost things that you can't replace including heirloom Christmas ornaments and hundreds of family pictures." According to deputies, Martonosy stole his sister's property and then sold it or gave it away to neighbors while she was moving out of their North Naples residence. Martonosy was arrested and charged with grand theft, a felony. In the meantime King is asking anyone who may have taken her stuff to call her and return her belongings. (The Naples News)

Have a Brick -- For Emergency Use Only!
A Chinese bus company has taken a strange measure to keep their passengers safe. The Harbin Public Transport Company will now equip its vehicles with bricks for passengers to use to break windows in an emergency. The bricks, painted yellow with "emergency use" written on both sides, are stored under the driver's seat and under a rear seat. A company spokesperson said, "It's easy for passengers to spot them, and use them to break the window if something happened." They use to use hammers for the same purpose but they were always being stolen. (Ananova)

Nuns Caught Doing 120!
Three nuns who were pulled over for speeding and clocked at 120 miles per hour! No, that's not the set up for a lame joke -- it really happened. The sisters told the police officer that they were racing to Pope Benedict XVI's holiday home after learning that he had fallen over and hurt himself. 56-year-old Sister Tavoletta was at the wheel of the Ford Fiesta, and two other unnamed nuns, aged 65 and 78, were passengers. Earlier, that day, the pontiff had indeed slipped in the bathroom and fractured his wrist, news which caused great concern at the nuns' Salesian convent. The trio immediately jumped in the car to try and visit him. Sister Tavoletta will lose her driver's license for a month and have to pay a fine. We're pretty sure there will also be a considerable number of "Hail Mary's" and "Our Fathers's." And who knew a Ford Fiesta could do 120??!!! (Ananova)

Scientology: Weirder Than We Thought!
According to the revelations of four former Church of Scientology officials who spoke with reporters from the St. Petersburg Times, Scientology is a little weirder than we thought. Apparently the church still punishes church leaders who screw up using an exercise concocted by founder L. Ron Hubbard. In the exercise, disgraced leaders are taken out to sea and forced off a gangplank with the admonition, "We commit your sins and errors to the deep and trust you will rise a better Thetan (immortal spiritual being)." The rituals can also take place in a cold swimming pool, with the transgressors in business suits. Also, to test leaders' commitment, the head Scientologist, with a boombox, conducts games of musical chairs with a reward for the last man sitting. The music used is often Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody": "Is this the real life? / Is this just fantasy? / Caught in a landslide / No escape from reality". No kidding. (St. Petersburg Times)

Bus Travel: More Dangerous Than We Thought!
Bet you'll think twice about taking the bus after hearing this. It turns out that the "normal" procedure for the U.S. Bureau of Prisons transfers "low-risk" prison inmates between institutions is to buy them bus tickets and then release them unescorted with an arrival deadline. In the last three years, 90,000 inmates were apparently transferred this way, and only about 180 absconded. Though each prisoner is supposedly carefully pre-screened for risk, one man still on the loose is Dwayne Fitzen, a gang-member who was halfway through a 24-year sentence for cocaine-dealing. Amazingly the traveling inmates are never identified as prisoners, and the folks at Greyhound say they are especially alarmed at the policy! (Las Vegas Sun)

They Keep Praying, and Praying, and Praying...
For the last 131 consecutive years, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Prayer order in La Crosse, Wisconsin, have been praying non-stop, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in prayer shifts at its Adoration Chapel. The ritual is to make good on a promise to God made back in 1865 by the order's superior at that time. The story is that she promised God that if he would grace their ministries with success, they would build a chapel and pray non-stop. So far, they've kept their word. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tuesday Stuff
• Paula Abdul's agent says she is "hurt," "angry" and may not return to "American Idol."
• A book is already being shopped around about a less-than-likeable Walter Cronkite. We'll see if anyone publishes it.
• Sony's movie studio has bid $50 million to acquire the rights to a film based on rehearsal footage for Michael Jackson's "This Is It" comeback concert series.
• Scientists are now saying Aloe is great for toothpastes, that it helps clean teeth and prevent cavities.
• Whoops! Sienna Miller burned her cleavage while filming her new movie, "G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra" after getting too close to a controlled explosion. "Luckily it wasn't my breasts, it was the bit in-between. It got a bit burnt," Miller told reporters at a news conference in Sydney, Australia.
• There will be a New York funeral for Walter Cronkite, but he'll be buried next to his wife in Missouri.
• Miami Beach police arrested "Burn Notice" star Jeffrey Donovan on suspicion of drunken driving.
• Shaquille O'Neal will star in "Shaq Vs.," a TV series where the 15-time All-Star center will challenge top athletes in their respective sports.
• Fred Durst has a new wife -- his girlfriend Esther and Fred tied the knot last week and are honeymooning in Vegas this week.
• The custody hearing for Micheal Jackson's kids has been moved to August 3, but now we're hearing there's a big push for Janet Jackson to get them.
• The hooker that brought down New York Governor Eliot Spitzer claims that she also serviced a governor from another state.
• President Obama has hit the 6-month mark of his presidency.

TOP FIVE REASONS PAULA ABDUL IS UPSET WITH AMERICAN IDOL
1. Producers are demanding that she only make coherent statements
2. Latest offer was $2-million a year in Jenny Craig trade
3. They've asked if each week she could wash Simon Cowell's car
4. Producers made a lower dollar offer and asked her to "make it her own"
5. Simon Cowell given OK to wear T-shirt that says "I'm with pudgy"

I SCREAM-YOU SCREAM-WE ALL SCREAM, FOR ICE CREAM!
Chocolate ice cream is the number one favorite flavor of ice cream, according to a new Harris Poll in which 27% said chocolate is their fave.

There was a three-way tie for second place with
• 22% each citing vanilla, cookie dough and cookies and cream.
• 20% chose butter pecan and Swiss almond, while
• 17% said mint chocolate chip is best.
• Other choices include rocky road (14%),
• strawberry (13%),
• cherry vanilla (9%),
• coffee (9%),
• pistachio (8%)
• and peanut butter (8%).
• 3% of Americans do not eat ice cream.

Want more?

• 45% like to eat their ice cream in a cup, compared with 29% that prefer a cone, 18% that like it in a sundae and 2% that choose an ice cream sandwich.
• When it comes to favorite toppings, 57% of those who eat ice cream say it is hot fudge while 43% say nuts and 40% say whipped cream.
• Over one-third of Americans who eat ice cream (35%) say their favorite is caramel, while 31% say it is fruit, such as strawberries or bananas.
• Just under one in five say sprinkles (18%) on top, while 13% say candy bits and 12% say marshmallow.
• 16% don't use any toppings on their ice cream.

WOMEN REALLY USE THEIR HEADS
In a recent study, researchers found that women use both sides of their brain to perceive beauty, while men use only their right side. As a result, women pay attention to small details like a chipped nail, but men view the overall effect "she's hot." So don't stress over tiny flaws he's so not picking up on. (Cosmopolitan)

MOON LANDING INFORMATION
This week, there's a lot of attention on the anniversary of the moon landing. We put together some, little-known Apollo 11 facts:

1. The Apollo computers had less processing power than a cellphone.
2. The "one small step for man" wasn't actually that small. Armstrong set the ship down so gently that its shock absorbers didn't compress. He had to hop 3.5 feet from the Eagle's ladder to the surface.
3. When Buzz Aldrin joined Armstrong on the surface, he had to make sure not to lock the Eagle's door because there was no outer handle.
4. The toughest moonwalk task? Planting the flag. NASA's studies suggested that the lunar soil was soft, but Armstrong and Aldrin found the surface to be a thin wisp of dust over hard rock.
5. The space suits and the ship's computer's ROM chips were handmade by teams of "little old ladies."
6. The moon didn't smell like cheese. Astronaut Neil Armstrong described it as "wet ashes in a fireplace" while Buzz Aldrin said the smell was "metallic."

BIRTHDAYS
In 1899 American writer, Ernest Hemingway (Farewell to Arms)
In 1911 Writer, Marshall McLuhan (The Medium is the Massage) [d: 12-31-80]
In 1924 Actor, Don Knotts (Andy Griffith Show, Ghost & Mr. Chicken) [d: 2-24-06]
In 1943 Singer/songwriter, Christine McVie (ex-Fleetwood Mac) (66)
In 1948 Former singer/songwriter, Cat Stevens aka Yusaf Islam (Wild World, Peace Train) (61)
In 1952 Actor, Robin Williams (Good Morning Vietnam, Mrs. Doubtfire) (57)
In 1972 Canadian Country singer, Paul Brandt (37)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1873 Jesse James pulls off the world's first train robbery.
In 1969 Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin blast-off from the moon in Apollo XI's Lunar Lander after 21.5 hours on the surface. They left behind a plaque which read, "Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the moon, July 1969, A.D. We came in peace for all mankind."

Monday July 20th, 2009

2009-07-20T03:00:00.002-04:00

Please, please, please let this be a dream. Let this Be Friday!

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
INSOMNIA CAN BE DEADLY
Insomnia can be deadly particularly for men. Researchers from Penn State College of Medicine followed almost 2,000 men and women for more than a decade, after they were initially examined in a sleep laboratory. The results: Men with insomnia who slept five to six hours a night hand a five times higher risk of dying during the study period compared to those who slept six or moe hours. Women, however, were not significantly affected. "This confirms something we've been concerned about for a long time that insomnia probably does cause health problems," says Dr. Carl Boethel, a sleep disorder researcher from Texas A&M Health Science Center. (National Enquirer)

DON’T SKIP BREAKFAST
Don't skip breakfast when dieting it can make your brain crave high calorie foods. People think they can knock off a few extra pounds by eliminating breakfast but they're actually tricking their brain into craving higher calorie foods. "It may be that when you miss meals, and maybe particularly breakfast, your brain reward system is biased toward these high calorie foods over the low calorie foods," says Dr. Anthony Goldstone, from Imperial College London. "We find that when people are fasting, they prefer high calorie foods to low calorie foods." Dr. Goldstone says the findings are based on brain imaging data which supports current medical advice to eat a healthy breakfast to prevent weight gain. (National Enquirer)

PEANUT BUTTER SANDWISHES MIGHT BE WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED
Peanut butter sandwiches could be just what the doctor ordered in the war against heart disease. Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that snacking on peanuts or peanut butter five days a week almost halved the risk of a heart attack or stroke among type 2 diabetes sufferers. Peanuts are thought to lower bad cholesterol, help reduce inflammation in the body and improve the health of blood vessels around the heart. (Globe)

THE CAR OF THE FUTURE IS MAKIING ITS DEBUT
The cars of the future are about to make their debut in the United Arab Emirates. The vehicles will roam the streets of Masdar City, an experimental, environmentally sound community that's presently under construction. The cars will be located at various stations around the city. To use one, all you'll have to do is swipe your credit card, climb in, sit back and do whatever the heck you want. That's because the solar powered car will do the driving for you. Either you tell it where you want to go or, if you're a frequent traveler, it'll already know, based on your credit card information. In either case, it'll assess the current traffic situation and find the quickest route. If the automatic cars work out in Masdar City, look for them to start appearing in other cities around the world. (Sun)

NEWS GIGGLES
Experts on the space program are saying that it may be pieces of foam that hit the bottom of the Space Shuttle, and if so, they were probably so small; you could mail them with one stamp. The sad part is if they'd licked the back of the foam fragments before they put them on there, they wouldn't have fallen off.

SPACE SHUTTLE – GIVEN CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
After a thorough inspection, the Space Shuttle Endeavour has been given a clean bill of health. Of course, Michael Jackson was given a clean bill of health in early June, so that's really not very encouraging.

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Monday Stuff
• Pink was enjoying a bike trip through Australia with husband Carey Hart when they pulled over for a restroom break. While Pink was relieving herself, a giant frog jumped right into her face. No injuries, the frog is fine.
• Women who drink coffee appear to have a lower risk of stroke than their friends who don't reports a study from the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid in Spain.
• The L.A. Coroner's office now says Jackson's autopsy results won't be available for another two weeks.
• James Caviezel got into a minor motorcycle accident last week when a man threw a bicycle into the path of his cycle in Leavenworth, Washington, a tourist town made up to look like a village in Germany.
• Mischa Barton's been hospitalized, but that's all her rep will say. Rumor has it that she's in a psych ward.
• Tori Spelling is sitting next to Kathie Lee Gifford for that 4th hour of the Today show, today through Wednesday.
• Actress Jorja Fox, who left the CBS crime drama CSI as a regular two years ago, will return as Sara for the 10th-season debut and other episodes.
• ABC has dropped the ax on that Christina Applegate series, "Samantha Who?"
• The next new Michael Jackson song you'll be hearing appears to be Michael's remake of the America song, "Horse with No Name." He re-worded it to "Place with no name."
• The biggest movie ever in China's history? "Transformers 2"
• Men who eat a diet rich in meat and dairy products may want to put down their forks for a minute. Meat and dairy raise levels of a hormone called Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), and men who have high blood levels of IGF-1 are up to 40 percent more likely to develop prostate cancer.

TRASH TALK
Americans throw away 251 million tons of trash each year, before recycling:
• 34% paper
• 13% yard trimmings
• 12% food scraps
• 12% plastics
• 9% wood and other
• 8% metals
• 7% rubber, leather, and textiles
• 5% glass

GUEST IN YOUR HOME NOTICE THE CRAZIEST THINGS
Guests notice a dirty house. Here are the top five things according to Good Housekeeping:
1. Piles of mail
2. Dust bunnies and cobwebs
3. A messy bathroom
4. Dishes in the sink
5. Full trash cans

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER
Do you have what it takes to live happily ever after? Thanks to a 22-question quiz from Dr. John Gottman of Washington University in St. Louis, you can find out. The tests couples on how much they know -- and don't know -- about one another. Answer these 22 questions and then see below to find out what your answers mean.
1. I can name my partner's best friends.
2. I know what stresses my partner is currently facing.
3. I know the names of some people who have been irritating my partner lately.
4. I can tell you some of my partner's life dreams.
5. I know my partner's basic philosophy of life.
6. I can list the relatives my partner likes the least.
7. I feel that my partner knows me pretty well.
8. When we're apart, I think fondly of my partner.
9. I often touch or kiss my partner affectionately.
10. My partner really respects me.
11. There is passion in our relationship.
12. Romance is still part of our relationship.
13. My partner appreciates the things I do.
14. My partner likes my personality.
15. Our sex life is mostly satisfying.
16. At the end of the day my partner is glad to see me.
17. My partner is one of my best friends.
18. We just love talking to each other.
19. There is lots of give and take (both people have influence) in our discussions.
20. My partner listens respectfully even when we disagree.
21. My partner is usually a great help as a problem solver.
22. We generally mesh well on basic values and goals in life.

What your answers mean:
15 or more positive answers: You have a lot of strength in your relationship.
8 to 14 positive answers: This is a pivotal time in your relationship as there are strengths you can build upon, but do focus on the weaknesses that need your attention.
7 or fewer: Your relationship may be in serious trouble and could be headed for the rocks. If you're concerned about this, it means you probably still value the relationship enough to get help.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR
Feeling blue? Improving your mood - even your health - may be as simple as slipping on something yellow or red. Wearing clothes that make you feel good is especially important when you're feeling under the weather, says Emily Spivack, found of Shop Well with You, an organization that shows women with cancer how to nurture themselves with clothes. Here's her advice:

• Red -- exudes power and passion. Wear it if you feel tired and need a boosts. Avoid it if you suffer from high blood pressure and anxiety.
• Orange -- is associated with health and energy. It heals emotions and heightens creativity, but it could also make you feel restless.
• Yellow -- is known to heal the digestive tract and skin problems. Wear it when you need to stay alert and add some joy to your life.
• Green -- heals the heart, eases tension and regenerates cells. Wear it when you need space or to see things from a different perspective.
• Blue -- is the color of truth and serenity. It is cooling, calming and a good choice if you want to exude authority and communicate better.

DID YOU KNOW
Gabbing for long periods of time on your cell phone can lead to a bad case of "cell phone elbow." "Repetitive, sustained stretching of the nerve is like stepping on a garden hose," explains Dr. Peter Evans, director of the Cleveland Clinic's Hand and Upper Extremity Center. "With the hose, you're blocking the flow of water. With the elbow, you're blocking the blood flow to the nerve, which causes it to misfire and short circuit." People first notice numbness, tingling or aching in the forearm and hand, but symptoms can progress to loss of muscle strength and coordination. Using a hands-free headset can usually eliminate this problem. (National Enquirer)

BIRTHDAYS
In 1804 English scientist, Sir Richard Owen (created the word "Dinosaur")
In 1919 Explorer, Sir Edmund Hillary (first to scale Mount Everest) [d: 1-11-08]
In 1933 Basketball coach, Chuck Daly (Detroit, Dream Team) (76)
In 1938 Actress, Diana Rigg (Avengers, On Her Majesty's Secret Service) (71)
In 1938 Actress, Natalie Wood (Gypsy, Rebel Without A Cause) [d: 11-29-81]
In 1946 Singer, Kim Carnes (Bette Davis Eyes) (63)
In 1964 Actress, Terri Irwin (Croc Files, Crocodile Hunter) (45)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1859 The first admission fee (50 cents) is charged to see a baseball game.
In 1881 Sioux Indian leader Sitting Bull, a fugitive since the Battle of the Little Big Horn, surrenders to federal troops.

Friday July 17th, 2009

2009-07-17T04:32:00.009-04:00

It's Friday!
"The weekend is here just in time for my 2 Day Nervous Breakdown!"
Dick

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Drunk Teen Tries To Do the Right Thing!
The Wisconsin appeals court is praising 19-year-old Travis Peterson, saying he tried to do the right thing and that the police were completely in the wrong. Travis knew he was too drunk to drive home after a Dave Matthews Band concert so he went to sleep in his car only to be awakened by a state trooper. Even though he told the officer he was drunk and sleeping it off, the trooper ordered him to leave because the lot was being cleared. And as soon as he was out of the parking lot, police arrested him for drunk driving and he was subsequently found guilty and ordered to spend 60 days in jail. But the appeals court said, "No way" and commended Travis for doing the right thing by trying to sleep it off, and said the trial court was wrong not to let him argue that police had entrapped him. It did not address the fact that Travis was underage but his attorney, Andrew Mishlove, said that was irrelevant given the other issues at stake. (myway.com)

Hole-In-One Thanks To Sponge Bob!
In Onekama, Michigan, 6-year-old Braeden Furlow teed up his SpongeBob SquarePants ball from about 85 yards out, picked up a 3-wood and made a solid hit that bounced twice on the fairway before landing right in the hole. His father, Travis Furlow said, "It was wild. It was a lot of fun to watch it happen." Neither of Braeden's golfing parents has ever hit a hole-in-one, but they say he hasn't rubbed it in. His dad added, "He handled it like a little gentleman. He's been humble about it and we've talked about not bragging about it." No word on whether there's been a run on Sponge Bob golf balls from eager golfers (myway.com)

Naked Nun on Facebook!
A novice nun is suing her ex-boyfriend in Italy after he uploaded pictures of her naked on Facebook. The 31-year-old woman who lives in Turin said she was devastated when she saw the pictures, taken back during the summer of 2006. The ex-boyfriend says he wanted to stop her becoming a nun has refused to remove the pictures. So now she's hired a lawyer, Anna Orecchioni, who has taken action and said, "My client doesn't want money, she only wants that he respects her decision to become a nun." In the meantime, large numbers of Italians have logged on to see the pictures leaving comments like: "If all the nuns are like that, I want to become a priest." (AHN News)

Dumbest Bank Robber Ever
Congratulations Victor Delfi! You may just be the dumbest bank robber of all time. Mr. Delfi was recently arrested and charged with robbing the Lincoln Park Savings Bank in Chicago. He made it pretty easy for police to catch him by trying to deposit some of the red-dye-stained cash he allegedly stole into his own account at another bank! DOH! (Chicago Tribune)

Sometimes You Just Can't Get a Break!
In Nelson, California, one poor man just couldn't catch a break. After accidentally crashing and rolling his car, he managed to somehow climb out from the wreckage alone and walk away. Unfortunately he walked across a train track and didn't see the Amtrack train coming that struck and killed him just minutes later. (Sacramento Bee)

World's Oldest Mom Dies
The oldest woman to give birth in the world has died of cancer, leaving her three-year-old twin boys orphaned. Carmen Bousada of Spain was 66 when she gave birth to the twins in December 2006. Sadly, cancer was detected after the birth and the disease worsened because of the fertility drugs she took to conceive. A California fertility clinic performed in vitro fertilization on Bousada after she misled doctors about her age. The procedure is usually not applicable to women her age but she convinced doctors that she was qualified to undergo the procedure by telling them she was 55 years old. The twin babies are now being cared for by her family. (AHN News)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Friday Stuff
• Britney Spears has gained 14 pounds in a month according to Britain's Star magazine, which blames high-calorie treats Britney eats in secret while she is supposed to be on a strict diet of fish, chicken and vegetables.
• July 25th is the date set for the grand opening of the Mirimichi golf course near Millington, Tennessee. Its new owner, Justin Timberlake, spent $16 million to pretty it up!
• "Harry Potter" actor Jamie Waylett, who plays the school bully Vincent Crabbe, has admitted in a London court that he has grown marijuana.
• 52-year-old Kim Cattrall has broken up with her 32-year-old boyfriend.
• While Whitney Houston's new CD is weeks away from release here, she's already released it with a huge party over in London.
• Amy Winehouse ended her two-year marriage to Blake Fielder-Civil when the couple were granted a divorce at a hearing in London on Thursday.
• Renee Zellweger is going to pack on the pounds for one more Bridget Jones movie.
• A producer is suing ABC, saying he came up with the idea for "Lost" 30 years ago. Yeah, me, too.
• The second half of the baseball season begins today, following the annual All-Star game break.

A GOOD HOME LIFE GOES A LONG WAY
Good sex and lots of emotional support at home can make your work life more enjoyable and improve your chances of promotion, say Swedish psychologists. "You cannot separate the two. If your family life is bad, you pay the consequences," notes Anne-Christine Andersson Arnten of Gothenburg University. Her team found that women in strong relationships were more productive and happier at work because they slept better and didn't have domestic woes affecting them. (Globe)

THINGS ABOUT MEN YOU SHOULD KNOW
72% of men would give up money for time with their wives and children, according to a recent poll by Spike TV. The study found that there has been a shift in men's lives on many fronts including work, interpersonal relationships and family when compared with the world of their fathers.
According to Men's Health:

• 97% of you still open the door for her
• 96% of you still ask her father's permission to marry her
• 71% of you do not stand when she enters a room
• 56% of you still send handwritten thank-you notes
• 54% of you do not give thanks before eating

WHICH APPLIANCE CAN’T YOU LIVE WITHOUT?
Woman's Day asked readers, "Which appliance can't you live without?"

• 31% said they can't live without their coffee maker
• 30% said they can't live without their dishwasher
• 26% said they can't live without their hair dryer
• 13%said they can't live without their iron

THE FACTS ABOUT MONEY
• The weight of $1 million worth of quarters is 50 thousand pounds.
• The average lifespan of a $1 bill is eighteen months.
• The average lifespan of a $100 bill is 9 years.
• The average lifespan of a quarter is 25 years.
• $696 million is the amount printed daily by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
• .01 percent of the $750 billion in U.S. currency circulating is estimated to be counterfeit.
• 13 - the number of instances of the number 13 on the back of a dollar bill, including 13 letters in the motto, "E Pluribus Unum."
• 7 percent of the American workforce earns minimum wage.
• $197 million is what the U.S. spent per day on the war in Iraq in 2005.
• $1.5 trillion is the cost in today's dollars of WWII, which is greater than all of history's other wars combine.
• $20 billion is the estimated amount of spending in the war on terror that is unaccounted for.
• $650 is the value of 12 pounds of coins removed in 2004 from the stomach of a man who had eaten them over the course of a decade. The man suffered from pica, a rare compulsion to eat the inedible.

AND THE PASSWORD IS
The most popular passwords are... the names of family members, sports teams, and pets. Infosecurity says 71% use one of those for their password. Here are some other results of the study:

Who knows your password?
• When first asked if they would reveal their password, 37% did it right away
• 53% said they would not give their password to a telephone caller claiming to be calling from their company's IT department
• 40% said they knew their colleagues' passwords
• 55% said they'd give their password to their boss

BIRTHDAYS
In 1899 Actor, James Cagney (Yankee Doodle Dandy) [d: 3-30-86]
In 1912 TV host, Art Linkletter (People Are Funny, House Party) (97)
In 1917 Comedian, Phyllis Diller (Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number) (92)
In 1934 Actor, Donald Sutherland (M*A*S*H, Ordinary People, Outbreak) (75)
In 1952 Actor/singer, David Hasselhoff (Knight Rider, Baywatch) (57)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1954 Construction begins on Disneyland.
In 1955 $17 million later, Disneyland opens its doors in Anaheim, CA.
In 1997 After 117 years, Woolworth Corp. closes its last 400 five-and-dime stores, laying off 9,200 employees.
In 1999 A search begins for the missing plane carrying John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, on a flight from New Jersey to Massachusetts.

Thursday July 16, 2009

2009-07-16T03:40:00.007-04:00

HAVE A GREAT DAY
DON'T LET ANYONE STEAL YOUR HAPPINESS!

TODAY’S TOPICALITY

Getting Our Priorities Straight
Struggling in the downward economy? Well if you're a Huskies fan, there's help for you. The University of Washington just finished up a two-month campaign of compassion to help out people hurt by the downturn in the economy. Fans of UW's football team who lost their jobs or were otherwise financially unable to renew their Huskies' season tickets were able tap into a special philanthropic fund. They would then receive a $500 tax-deductible gift from "Dawgs Supporting Dawgs" which would permit a hard-hit fan to maintain his place on the priority season-ticket list. Unfortunately charity does come at a price. If you ended up on the Dawgs Supporting Dawgs list, your seats this year will be in an inferior location. (Seattle Times)

People Get Paid For This?
For some reason, researchers from Cleveland State University found it necessary to study and analyze the physical traits of 195 female characters from the first 20 James Bond films. The published journal article revealed that more Bond girls are brunette than blond and that at least 90 percent were young, slim and of above-average looks. Wow -- we had no idea! (Daily Telegraph)

People Get Paid For This Part Deux!
This summer, a branch of the National Institutes of Health actually awarded a $423,000 grant to the Kinsey Institute to find out -- are you ready for this-- why men seem to prefer not to use condoms during sex. During an ABC News story about the grant, a sex-advice blogger was interviewed and he suggested, free of charge we might add, that it's because the condom reduces sexual sensation. (ABC News)

I Can't Understand Why I'm So Fat!
42-year-old Anna Ryan of Blue Springs, Missouri had a real mystery on her hands. As silly as it sounds, she just couldn't figure out why she got so fat. She was completely baffled as to why for many years her normal 140 pounds sometimes ballooned to as much as 260 despite her consistently rigorous diet and exercise regimen. Then the surprising truth came out. Sleep tests revealed that she had a very unusual eating disorder. Turns out Ms. Ryan was a sleepwalker whose routine included as many as eight kitchen visits a night in which she gorged herself. Yet the next morning she would have no memory of doing this. (Daily Mail)

Family Secrets
In Montreal, Quebec, the courts have ordered the Cinemas Guzzo theater to pay a woman $10,000 for violating her family's privacy. Turns out that they searched both the woman's and her daughter's purses looking for video equipment that could illegally record a movie. Well, they found no video equipment, but they did find the teenaged daughter's birth control pills, which the mother and the daughter both later admitted would have been better left unrevealed to each other. (CTV News)

T. Bone Pickens A Thief?
T. Bone Pickens has found himself on the business end of a lawsuit because a man from Holdenville, Oklahoma say Pickens is responsible for the work crews who pulled up to the driveway of the man's home, and cut out a slab containing Pickens' signature, and then drove off. The 3-by-5-foot concrete slab was then taken to the Pickens ranch in Texas. The victim, David McCart said, "I was in shock and started talking to my neighbors. I couldn't imagine who would actually come and cut my driveway out or when it had happened." Turns out the small section of cement was removed recently when Pickens was in town to inspect enhancements to a family plot at the Holdenville cemetery. It seems that back in 1946 as a youngster, Pickens scratched his name in the cement driveway of his grandmother's house, now owned by McCart. Pickens has frequently checked on the house when he visited Oklahoma. McCart says the signature was one of the main reasons he bought the house. (The OK News)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Thursday Stuff
• Senator Ted Kennedy's memoirs will be published with a deluxe edition available for $1,000 a book!
• Elizabeth Taylor, 77, is reportedly in hospital in Los Angeles after the death of her close pal Michael Jackson left her emotionally drained.
• Ukraine's Culture Ministry says it has banned Sacha Baron Cohen's new hit movie, "Bruno," because it's immoral.
• Should get word this week about a possible end of August All-Star concert in London, to honor Michael Jackson's birthday.
• Debbie Rowe is said to be considering her legal pursuit of Michael Jackson's kids... for somewhere between $3 million and $5 million.
• Russell Brand will be back in September to host the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.
• Robert Redford married his German girlfriend over the weekend in her home country. First time he's been married since his divorce in 1985.
• Now there are report's that the L.A. police are treating Michael Jackson's death as a possible murder. More to come.

TOP 10 MOST OUTRAGEOUS CAR OPTIONS
Hagerty Insurance researched dozens of these unheard of inventions to create a list of the top 10 quirkiest options ever invented for the automobile.

1. Automotive Swamp Cooler -- These were popular from the late 1940s through the 1950s to help cool the interior of cars before air conditioning systems became readily available. Swamp coolers were available through the aftermarket and attached to one of the car's windows. These are highly collectible now and are commonly seen at vintage car shows.
2. Highway Hi-Fi (16 2/3 LP Player) -- Developed in 1955 and offered as an option on 1956 Chrysler models, the Highway Hi-Fi had one big drawback: Drive over even the smallest of bumps, slam on the brakes or take a corner fast, and it would skip.
3. Destroilet -- An optional "Destroilet" gas incinerator-type toilet was available for early 1960s Dodge motor homes, which was meant to simplify waste disposal. After use, when the top lid was closed, a small, thick metal lid would also close over the well at the bottom. A jet of burning gas would incinerate the solid waste and vaporize the liquid.
4. Electric Shaver -- An electric shaver that was powered by the vehicle's electrical system was developed by aftermarket automotive suppliers in the 1940s and was an available factory option for a 1957 Chevrolet.
5. Automatic Lit Cigarette Dispenser -- As a "safety" item, this was an aftermarket accessory designed to eliminate the distractions of lighting a cigarette while motoring down the road. Unveiled in the late 1940s, it was attached to the steering wheel.
6. Steam Pressure Cooker -- This accessory mounted to the rear bumper to cook food while motoring down the road. It routed exhaust gases through the inner chambers of the cooker to provide the heat to cook the food. Yum!
7. Steering Wheel Watch -- In 1958, a steering wheel-mounted watch was available on DeSotos.
8. Trafficators -- Back in the days before flashing turn signals, a driver would flip a switch on the dash and a lit semaphore arm would swing out of a panel on the appropriate side of the car and signal the driver's intention to turn.
9. Swivel Seats -- These seats, available on a '59 Chrysler, would automatically swivel out as the door opened to make it easier for the passenger to exit the automobile.
10. Talking Car -- In the early 1980s, the Chrysler LeBaron talked. It would say phrases such as "Your door is ajar" and "All monitored systems functioning." If you followed the command of "Please fasten your seatbelt," it would promptly reply with "Thank you!"

EASY TRIVIA
(The answer is at the end of each statement.)

• Who was the first president of the National Organization for Women, in 1966? (Betty Freidan)
• Who tooled around Chicago during Prohibition in a car bearing the license plate "EN-1"? (Eliot Ness)
• Who cross-examined the victims in the trial against Long Island Railroad shooter Colin Ferguson? (Colin Ferguson)
• What beating victim's 23-lawyer defense team handed the city of Los Angeles a bill for $4.4 million? (Rodney King's)
• What can Germans publicly deny the existence of to earn five years in prison? (The Holocaust)
• What French explorer was murdered by his crew after he spent two years failing to locate the mouth of the Mississippi? (Robert La Salle)
• Who's believed by many to be buried in Downpatrick under a tombstone marked with the letter "P"? (St. Patrick)
• What controversial crime fighter did Elvis Presley call "the greatest living American"? (J. Edgar Hoover)
• What cavalryman's bonehead moves included leaving four Gatling guns behind, in 1876? (George Armstrong Custer's)
• Who wrote in 1774 that "no thinking man" in America wanted independence from England? (George Washington)
• What desert's name was inspired by the array of colors that erosion has exposed there? (The Painted Desert's)
• What Berlin landmark had lost over 60 tons in shipments to the U.S. by 1990? (The Berlin Wall)
• What was the biggest city in America until 1755? (Boston)
• What U.S. city had three of the world's five tallest man-made structures in 1994? (Chicago)
• What cave mammals inspired some folks to dub Nebraska the "Bug-eating State"? (Bats)
• What Asian country has the world's lowest amount of urban green space per person? (Japan)
• What country went metric to join the European Community, but kept the pint for use in pubs and for milk? (Britain)
• What now extinct fowl was originally named "disgusting bird" by its Dutch discoverers? (Dodo)
• What creature has 98.4 percent of its DNA n common with humans? (The Chimpanzee)
• What constellation must you aim a telescope at to view the Crab nebula? (Taurus)

LONGEVITY AFFECTS LABIDO
Men, you better watch out. Once women feel secure in their relationships, their sex drive plummets. Just four years into a relationship is enough to make a woman's libido wane, according to researchers at Hamburg-Eppendorf University in Germany, who found in a study of 520 men and women that less than half of 30-year-old women wanted regular sex. Specifically, they found that at the beginning of the relationship, 60% of the women wanted sex "often," but four years later less than 50% wanted it. After 20 years in a relationship, just 20% wanted to have sex often. The opposite is true for men. No matter how long they are in a relationship with the same woman, 60 to 80% of men still want to have sex often with her.

THE RIGHT THING TO DO WHEN YOU’RE SICK
If you want to be a good employee, don't be a hero stay home if you're sick. A study of more than 6,000 workers found that employees who repeatedly went to work despite feeling sick risk poor health in the long run. Those who continued to work when sick more than five days a year were at a 40% to 50% higher risk of missing at least 30 days the following year due to illness. Researchers believe staying home when sick promotes long term health. (National Enquirer)

IT’S HOW YOU SPEND YOUR MONEY THAT CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY
The old cliche says no, but new research shows that how you spend money can influence how happy you are. A Journal of Personality and Social Psychology study revealed that 57% felt much happier after splurging on an experience like a vacation or theater tickets than after spending big on a material item like jewelry or clothing. This may be because the memory of a positive experience gets better with time, while material possessions eventually get old. Next time you're ready to dish out some dough, consider a trip to the Bahamas rather than that pearl necklace you've been eyeing you'll thank yourself in the long run.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1872 Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen (discovered of South Pole)
In 1887 Baseball player, "Shoeless" Joe Jackson (Cleveland, Chicago)
In 1907 Popcorn king, Orville Redenbacher [d: 9-19-95]
In 1967 Actor/comedian, Will Ferrell (SNL, Night at the Roxbury) (42)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1918 Russia's Czar Nicholas II, his empress and their five children are executed by the Bolsheviks

Wednesday July 15th, 2009

2009-07-15T03:00:00.003-04:00

GOOD MORNING
and WELCOME TO A NEW DAY

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
"21-Year-Old Woman Prank Calls Her Own Grandmother With Death Threats!"
In Cambridge, Minnesota, a 21-year-old woman faces felony charges after allegedly prank-calling her 69-year-old grandmother 45 times in one day, threatening to kill her! She allegedly said things like "I'm gonna kill you,""You're going to die" and "I'm watching you." When police finally arrested her she said she did it just because she was "bored" and "wanted to have some fun."

Phone A Friend
Just like on "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire," high school students in Austria will now be given a free phone-a-friend lifeline during their exams in teacher Peter Reinhard's class. Calls can be made to a series of professional experts but ironically, the experts are often more nervous about the exams and getting the right answers than the students.

"Coast Rica Beats Disney World As Happiest Place on Earth!"
Truth! That's according to research from a group called the New Economics Foundation. They cite Costa Rica's content people, long life expectancy and tiny carbon footprint due to the use of renewable energy as the things that put them at the top of the Happy Planet Index. The United States was 114th on the list!

"Company To Hire Witch For $80,000 a Year!"
The popular tourist attraction Wookey Hole Caves in England is looking for a witch to live in a cave and teach visitors about witchcraft and magic! The successful applicant "must be able to cackle, must not be allergic to cats and will enjoy a salary of $80,000 working during school holidays and weekends." And you've still got time -- auditions are July 28th!

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Wednesday Stuff
• 41-year-old Molly Ringwald has given birth to twins, one of each.
• NBC put its new "Parenthood" TV series on hold because star Maura Tierney was having "medical issues." Turns out that they discovered a tumor in one of her breasts and she'll require surgery.
• Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson are no longer an item. They say Tony broke up with her the night before her 29th birthday.
• Neil Patrick Harris is everywhere. Now he's going to host the Emmy's in September.
• Eva Longoria Parker has confessed that she likes to be tied up during sex. The "Desperate Housewives" actress told Cosmopolitan she likes being restrained with silk scarves.
• Amy Winehouse is back in Britain and said to be looking pretty good... for Amy.
• In a new biography, author C. David Heymann alleges that Jackie Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy had a steamy affair from 1964 to 1968 that only ended when Bobby ran for president.
• "Star Trek" may not have wanted him, but the makers of a "T.J. Hooker" movie have asked William Shatner to make an appearance.
• An extract derived from the African mango, a fruit that is popular in West Africa, appears to inhibit body fat production and lowers cholesterol.
• Alana Stewart, one of Farah Fawcett's best friends, is going to publish a book about the actress, with proceeds going to Farah's Foundation.
• Free Press will release George Carlin's last book, "Last Words," in November. Carlin died in June, 2008 at age 71.
• This is the week Michael Jackson was supposed to re-launch his career in London. Hundreds of fans gathered outside the O2 stadium Monday night to remember him.
• Actor LeVar Burton was involved in a five-car accident in Los Angeles but wasn't seriously injured. Burton, 52, was in the TV miniseries "Roots" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
• Daughtry's second album, "This Town" hit music outlets yesterday.
• Emma Watson has signed on to star as a princess in a gothic musical reworking of "Cinderella," being written by Marilyn Manson.
• The Queen is going to visit Canada in 2010, it was announced this week.
• Delta is being sued because they won't offer larger sizes in flight attendant uniforms.
• Going through Michael Jackson's records, he had a serious over-spending problem. He owned 75 cars under his name and had monthly expenses of $2.3 million.
• Alex Rodriguez and Kate Hudson were spotted hanging out last weekend in Hollywood, in-between Yankee games.

IF YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED AND LOOKING FOR WORK
Move to Maryland. The top two U.S. cities with the most abundant job postings per capita are Washington, DC, and Baltimore, according to Indeed.com, which surveyed the 50 largest metro areas. The District of Columbia took the top spot thanks to hiring within the federal government, while Baltimore is aided by recession-proof industries of healthcare and higher education. Here's the top 10 U.S. cities with the most job postings per capita in the second quarter:

1. Washington, DC
2. Baltimore
3. San Jose
4. Austin
5. Hartford
6. Seattle
7. Salt Lake City
8. Denver
9. Boston
10. Las Vegas and Charlotte (tie)

ARE WOMEN REALLY CLEANER THAN MEN?
The next time your lady claims women are the cleaner sex, shake her up with the results of a new study. A whopping 85% of women polled confessed to donning dirty clothes, while 52% admitted to re-wearing underwear. And 43% of the ladies revealed they don't brush their teeth every night while nearly a third reported they don't bathe daily. Furthermore, at least 24% or 240 of the women surveyed by Glamour magazine revealed that they don't wash their hands every time they use the toilet, a rude gaffe that medical experts decry as both icky and unhealthy because dirty hands spread bacteria and viruses. Finally, 320 women or 32% revealed how they regularly risk contracting foot disease by walking barefoot in gyms.

WHAT KIND OF WOMEN DO MEN PREFER?
Researchers explain a new study that these days men seem to prefer the average "homely" figures of the girl next door to the bombshell bodies of centerfolds. The researchers asked 100 male college students to rate 200 drawings of women's torsos and then compared the results with the vital statistics of eight different groups of women, including centerfolds, models and average gals. Surprisingly, they found that the most popular shape was a 5-foot 4-inch gal with a 30-inch waist and 40-inch hips which works out to be a size 12. (National Examiner)

OFFICIAL MAN'S SUMMER TIME RITUAL
It's time to review the official man's summer time ritual. Of course, this involves grilling food outdoors for a picnic at your place. When a man volunteers to do the BBQ, the following chain of events are put into motion:

1. The woman buys the food.
2. The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables and makes dessert.
3. The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill... beer in hand.
4. Here comes the important part: The man places the meat on the grill.
5. The woman goes inside to organize the plates and silverware.
6. The woman comes out to tell the man the meat is burning. He thanks her and asks if she'll bring him another beer while he deals with the situation.
7. Important again: The man takes the meat off the grill and hands it to the woman.
8. The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins and sauces and brings them to the table.
9. After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.
10. Everyone praises the man and thanks him for his cooking efforts.
11. The man asks the woman how she enjoyed "her night off." Upon seeing her annoyed reaction, he concludes that there's just no pleasing some women.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1606 Dutch painter, Rembrandt van Rijn
In 1931 Writer, Clive Cussler (Raise The Titantic, Sahara, Deep Six) (78)
In 1946 Singer/actress, Linda Ronstadt (Blue Bayou, Heat Wave) (63)
In 1951 Wrestler/Governor, Jessie "The Body" Ventura (Minnesota) (58)
In 1961 Actor, Forest Whitaker (Crying Game, Blown Away, Phenomenon) (48)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1815 Napoleon Bonaparte is captured.
In 1946 The comedy team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis debuts.
In 1968 The daytime soap "One Life To Live" debuts on ABC-TV.
In 1988 "Die Hard" starring Bruce Willis opens in U.S. theaters.

Tuesday July 14th, 2009

2009-07-14T03:00:00.000-04:00

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Don't Bring a Toy Gun To a Cricket Bat Fight!
In Bay Minette, Alabama, a 22-year-old man made the big mistake of bringing a toy gun to a cricket bat fight. The would-be-robber tried to hold up Bee Gee's gas station by brandishing a toy gun. But a station employee raised the bar when he whipped out a cricket bat and successfully chased the robber away. The suspect was later arrested and charged with first-degree robbery. Our cricket bat-wielding hero said he figured out the gun was a toy because it had a bright orange tip on the barrel. Of course the big question is does Bee Gee's gas station entertain their customers with a constant loop of "Stayin' Alive," "Jive Taking" and "How Deep Is Your Love?" (Press-Register)

Why Hitchhiking Is Bad For You
You've been warned about the dangers of hitchhiking. You just never know who you're getting into a car with. In Saginaw, Michigan, Mark E. White found out the hard way when he tried to hitch a ride right after he allegedly held up a local bank. He flagged down a driver just a few blocks from the robbery and indeed got himself a ride. Unfortunately for him the driver just happened to be undercover police detective Scott Jackson. So Mr. White was promptly arrested on charges that include bank robbery and making a false bomb threat. He was already on parole for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and violating an earlier parole. Hopefully they'll keep this nut locked up this time. (The Saginaw News)

The Redneck Games Are On!
More than 10,000 rednecks... um... competitors have descended on the small town of Dublin, Georgia for the annual "Redneck Games!" Participants enjoy events including everything from watermelon-seed-spitting contests to armpit-squelching. The most popular contest of the games is the mud-pit belly-flop where fully clothed contestants throw themselves into a vat of red mud clay with points awarded for beauty of form and the size of the splash produced. There's also bobbing for pigs feet. The Redneck Games were first held in 1996 as a spoof of the Olympic Games which were then being held in Atlanta. (Ananova)

Genie Goes To Court
A family in Saudi Arabia is actually taking a genie to court for throwing stones at them and stealing their mobile phones. In Islamic theology, genies are spirits that can harass or possess humans and our family says they have been forced to move out of their home of 15 years in Medina. One family member says, "We began to hear strange sounds. At first we did not take it seriously, but then stranger things started to happen and the children got particularly scared when the genie started throwing stones." There is a lingering belief in genies in the Muslim world. Genies are normally invisible but with the ability to assume human or animal form, and are often said to be motivated by revenge or jealousy. The family asked that their name not be released to the public lest anyone think they are crazy. Oh we'd never think that. Not for one second. (Ananova)

Family Duped Into Trashing Hotel Room
Mark and Lisa Kantorski and their three children were staying at the Hilton Garden Inn near the Orlando Airport when they were called by someone claiming to be a hotel receptionist. The receptionist said there was a gas leak in their room and urgent action was required. Lisa frantically relayed the information to husband, Mark, who followed the caller's instructions to smash the window of his room with a toilet tank. He then followed more instructions including breaking a wall mirror, bashing in a wall with a lamp to get to a "trapped man on the other side" and then threw the mattress out the window so the family could jump for safety. Fortunately, before the family had a chance to jump, hotel manager Samir Patel appeared at the door to address a noise complaint. He then broke the news there was no gas leak and that the Kantorskis had become the latest victims of pranksters who have been duping hotel guests into outrageous actions across the U.S. (Ananova)

Joe Jackson: Show Me the Money!
Well the dirt has hardly settled over Michael Jackson's grave and his dad is already planning to put his famous son's kids on tour! Dubbed "The Jackson Three," Joe has reportedly lined up 12-year-old Prince Michael I, 11-year-old Paris, and 7-year-old Prince Michael II to perform at a series of concerts next year. Michael's unofficial biographer Ian Halperin said, "Joe wants the children to go on a world tour in 2010. He has already offered recording contracts to two of Michael's kids. Now he is talking about getting them the world's best backing band and taking them on tour as The Jackson Three." However -- don't go stand in line for tickets just yet. The rest of the Jackson family are reportedly furious about the idea and claim 79-year-old Joe is trying to exploit the grieving youngsters. Gee, ya think? (AHN News)

No More Texting While Walking
We know texting and driving is very dangerous. So is apparently texting and walking. A teenager in New York City claims she fell down an open manhole while she was sending a text message from her cell phone. Alexa Longueira suffered only mild cuts and bruises but her family sees the opportunity as their free ticket for life and plans to sue the Big Apple. Her mother said workers told her they left the manhole uncovered and unattended for only seconds while they went to get orange safety cones from their truck. (AHN News)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tuesday Stuff
• President Obama threw out the first pitch tonight and then joined Tim McCarver and Joe Buck in the broadcast booth for baseball's All-Star game.
• Now, LaToya Jackson is running around saying that her brother Michael was murdered.
• A new study claims that moderate drinkers are almost 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease than non-drinkers and heavy drinkers. Cheers!
• Kate Gosselin spent the weekend with the kids in Pennsylvania, while Jon Gosselin was in St. Tropez with his 23-year-old girlfriend Hailey Glassman, the daughter of the doc who performed Kate's tummy tuck.
• Ryan Seacrest has signed on the dotted line and will get $15 million a year to host "American Idol" for the next three years. That's triple his last salary.
• Maureen McCormick, the actress who played Marcia on the 70's sitcom "The Brady Bunch," claims that Eve Plumb, who played her sitcom sister, Jan, is mad at her about a joke, she made a year ago that the two had a lesbian fling.
• Despite well-publicized bumps in the road, Tea Leoni and David Duchovny are still married and living together.
• Rachel Ray had vocal chord surgery last week and is already resting at home.
• Artie Lang got into a minor car accident over the weekend and was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
• "Star Wars" co-star Natalie Portman will star in the comic-book adaptation "Thor." The 28-year-old Portman has been cast as Jane Foster, who was a nurse and first love of the title character in the Marvel Comics.
• NBC has post-poned its new show Parenthood while star Maura Tierney is undergoes a medical evaluation for an undisclosed illness.
• ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff returned to Iraq on Monday for the first time since he was nearly killed there by a roadside bomb more than three years ago.
• That song Kara DioGuardi wrote for the winner of "American Idol" this year... the one Kris Allen was singing on tour... has been dropped from the tour.

PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS
A recent survey by Shopzilla asked people about their relationships with their pets. It seems that 56% of women pet owners felt their pets were more affectionate than their partners. And 45% said their pets were cuter. On the other hand, men found only 24% of their pets cuter and 41% found their pets more affectionate than their significant others. According to the latest statistics from the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA), pet ownership is currently at its highest level. They estimate that 63% of all U.S. households own a pet, or 69 million households.

HERE’S AN EYE OPENING SHOCKER
By the year 2015, the demand for two master bedrooms in upscale homes will increase significantly, predicts the U.S. National Association of Home Builders. Why the double room, single occupancy? People want a good night's sleep even if it means spending the night apart from their spouses. Since 75% of adults have sleep problems like snoring or waking up during the night, according to the National Sleep Foundation, it's no wonder that more couples are splitting up for sleep, even if they're perfectly happy together when the sun's up. Let's hope they still spend some time together in bed... especially when there's no shut eye on the agenda.

HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Real life relationships are infinitely more complicated than those in your average fable, movie or half-hour TV show. Still, there's nothing wrong with taking a page or two from pop culture when writing the script for your own love life. Self magazine recently ask readers these questions and here's what they said:

• 77% agree that "you have to change who you are a little to make love work."
• 83% disagree that "big romantic gestures are a measure of how much he loves you."
• 58% agree that "sex can turn into love."
• 83% disagree that "an unattractive and foul tempered guy can grow on you."
• 81% agree that "the love of your life could be right under your nose, right now."
• 56% agree that "first impressions are usually correct."
• 74% agree that "it's possible to keep sex hot even with kids and a crazy busy life."
• 86% agree that "mixing business with romance rarely ends well in real life."
• 88% agree that "you can live with someone for years and never fully know them."
• 82% disagree that "you must never listen to friends' opinions about the one you love."

HOW TO BEAT AUTOMATED ANSWERING SYSTEMS
When you call a company's customer service department and get an automated system, here are a few tips to getting a live person:

• Press "0" repeatedly
• In a loud voice say "agent" or "get human" or "representative"
• Don't press any buttons or say anything
• Pretend you have a rotary phone
• Choose the collections, sales or cancellation option for a quicker connect and ask to be transferred to the department you really want.
• Try the company's non-toll-free number. The wait time is often shorter.

TOP FIVE SIGNS YOU'RE WAY OVERDUE TO MOW YOUR LAWN
1. The next season of "Survivor" to be filmed in your front yard
2. Those annoying "Tarzan yells" from somewhere in the yard
3. Oh-oh: Velociraptor droppings
4. You're on your third newspaper boy this month
5. Giraffes complaining the grass is too tall to eat

BIRTHDAYS
In 1912 Folk singer, Woody Guthrie (This Land is Your Land) [d: 10-3-67]
In 1913 Gerald R. Ford, 38th U.S. president (1974-77) (96)
In 1932 Former football player/actor, Rosey Grier (Giants/Movin' On) (77)
In 1933 Country singer/guitarist, Del Reeves (76)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1951 Citation becomes the first horse to win $1,000,000 in races.
In 1975 Plans to build EPCOT Center in Orlando, Florida, are announced.
In 1978 The cheese-eating record is set when Peter Dowdeswell downs a pound of hard cheddar in 73 seconds. Guess what he couldn’t dpo for 78 days?

Monday July 13th, 2009

2009-07-13T03:00:00.001-04:00

I'M BACK

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Michael Jackson Immortalized in Butter?
An awful lot has been done lately to honor the late great King of Pop, but nobody's made a statue of Michael Jackson out of butter -- well not yet. But the Iowa State Fair is considering doing just that and fair organizers will be taking a vote on the idea as it's apparently turned out to be so controversial. Spokeswoman Lori Chappell says Jackson was to be part of a sculpture commemorating the 40th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's moon landing. (That's what we said... what?) And there has been overwhelming response about the Jackson sculpture, both positive and negative. So the fair is now conducting an online poll at iowastatefair.org. Results will be announced on July 17. The fair runs from August 13 – 23. (Ananova)

Taking A Dump... No Longer Safe!
Apparently, having a sit on the potty is no longer safe... at least in Tampa, Florida. 53-year-old Janifer Bliss was taking care of business in a hotel bathroom stall when she was suddenly shot in the leg! The bullet came from the stall next to her after another woman accidentally let a handgun fall from her purse. It hit the floor and went off. The gun toting woman did have a permit to carry a concealed weapon but the State Attorney's Office will determine if any charges will be filed. (myway.com)

One Woman: Nine Lottery Wins!
60-year-old Brenda Bailey of Charleston, West Virginia, probably won't stop buying lottery tickets any time soon. She just won $7,000 in the Gem 7s instant game -- and that's her 9th win since she started playing in 2000. Her total winnings to date are $165,800 but $159,000 of the loot is from five instant tickets she purchased just since last September. Her husband Richard also has a little of the family luck having won $6,000 in a scratch-off game in January and a $10,000 prize last September. (myway.com)

I Thought Golf Was Supposed To Make You Relax
I've always heard golf was supposed to make you relax. Not so in Kent, Washington where 34-year-old Nicholas Jay Shampine will be spending the next 1 ½ years in prison for bashing another golfer over the head with a 6-iron! Apparently Shampine was angry that his victim was playing too slow. The victim, 45-year-old James Compton, says he still has memory loss and headaches. (KOMO-TV News)

If The Meth Lab's a Rockin'...
Down in San Antonio, Texas, the car was rocking, so someone called police. But it wasn't just any car the couple in question was having sex in. Police say it was a virtual mobile meth lab! When deputies arrived, they noticed the couple intimately engaged. They also soon realized the car was full of chemicals and instruments used to manufacture crystal methamphetamine. 26-year-old Timothy Overly and 25-year-old Candace Prewitt were arrested and charged with public lewdness and the manufacture of a controlled substance. (San Antonio News Express)

Practice What You Tattoo!
In Denton, Texas, a man walked into a tattoo parlor and commissioned a tattoo artist to imprint "Only God can judge me" on his upper arm. The design also included a picture of a pair of praying hands. When the tattoo was finished, the man paid with a credit card -- but that credit card that was declined. So the guy just took off and ran. But we figure he'll be easy to identify if police ever catch him. He'll be the guy whose arm God is judging. (Denton Record Chronicle)

Somebody Please Post This 911 Call!
In Treasure Island, Florida, 45-year-old Kimberly Lynn Calvert has been arrested after assaulting her live-in boyfriend with what was described as a pink sex toy. 911 operators got the call from John Anthony Gonzales who said she "began poking" him "in the groin area multiple times" with the sex toy. She's charged with simple battery. Sure hope somebody finds and posts that 911 call on the internet. That one ought to be good! (Tampa Bay News)

Lightning Cures All
It looks like a lightning strike has cured 51-year-old Nada Acimovich of Serbia from a deadly heart condition! Doctors had been treating Nada for arrhythmia-- irregular heartbeats that can be a killer -- but were shocked to discover she had made a complete recovery after being struck by lightning. The condition is normally treated with mild electric shocks to reset the heart's rhythm. Nada was saved from death by her rubber-soled shoes but the electric jolt put her heartbeat back to normal say her doctors. So not only is she lucky to be alive -- she's going to live for a lot longer! (Ananova)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Monday Stuff
• Jim Carrey's 21-year-old daughter Jane is going to be a mom... so, yep: Jim's gonna be a grandpa!
• Lady Gaga says she's broke. All that money she makes, according to her, goes to the cost of her elaborate show.
• Lil Wayne is being sued by a concert promoter because he slept through what was supposed to be a performance.
• Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance?" show was going to do a Michael Jackson salute... but couldn't get the rights to use the songs.
• Remember that Michael Jackson resolution that Representative Sheila Jackson Lee talked about during MJ's memorial service? It's been shot down by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She felt it wasn't necessary.
• Patricia Arquette has called off her divorce from Thomas Jane, star of the new HBO series "Hung." She filed in January, but has withdrawn the petition.
• Ryan Reynolds says he and his wife Scarlett Johansson have every intention of adopting a baby some day. His brother was adopted and he likes the idea.
• Justin Timberlake was playing golf in L.A. last week when he got his first every hole-in-one! Congrats JT.
• Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman on Broadway, together? The two are teaming up for "A Steady Rain," which opens in September.
• Michael Jackson's body is back at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills... but according to papers, is just being held there. The final resting place is yet to be announced.
• David Arquette is going to sleep in a Plexiglas box above the Madison Square Garden marquee on Tuesday and Wednesday to raise money for the hungry.

TOP FIVE SIGNS THAT BASEBALL PLAYER TAKING PART IN THE HOME RUN DERBY IS JUICED

1. He's using three bats at a time
2. The last home run he hit hasn't come down yet... and he hit it Friday
3. Biceps are thicker than Randy Johnson
4. He's wearing dreadlocks and a Dodgers uniform
5. He's actually able to crush baseballs with his bare hands

A MensHealth.com poll asked, "WHAT'S HER FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY ON A DATE?"

• 32% said miniature golf
• 26% said bowling
• 24% said pool
• 7% said table tennis
• 6% said tennis
• 5% said fishing

PLANNING TO BE A FATHER
Men who plan to be dads in the near future should stop using computers on their laps. The heat from the computer could be lowering their sperm count. "Laptops are becoming increasingly common among young men wired into the latest technology," says Dr. Suzanne Kavic, director of the division of reproductive endocrinology at Loyola University in Chicago. "However, the heat generated from laptops can impact sperm production and development, making it difficult to conceive down the road." To avoid the problem, Dr. Kavic recommends placing laptops on desktops. (National Enquirer)

THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES
Science has spoken, finally bringing one of the hardest fought battles in the war between the sexes to an end. It is women, not men, who spend more time in the bathroom but only about 4 minutes longer on average. The findings come from a survey of 1,042 adults conducted by the Yankelovitch research firm and commissioned by the company behind Phillips Colon Health Probiotic Supplements. They found that, on average, women spend 32 minutes in the powder room, while men average 28 minutes. Surprisingly, 10% of respondents break the odds by spending more than an hour a day in the bathroom doing what, they didn't say. And 25% of all respondents admitted that when dining out, the lied to their companions about what they were doing when they excused themselves for a visit to the restroom. (Sun)

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM
According to the International Ice Cream Association, the top 3 most popular ice cream flavors are at #3, Butter Pecan, then Chocolate at #2 and Vanilla has the top spot.

HOW ABOUT THIS FOR CONVENIENCE
Chained to your desk and unable to slip out even for a quick lunch? Heinz is feverishly working to develop a portable microwave oven that is powered by your computer. Dubbed the Beanzaware, the turquoise device is just 7.4 inches tall, 6.2 inches wide and 5.9 inches deep and pugs into a common USB port using the same frequencies used by cell phones. Those frequencies are the key to quickly cooking food on the inside and outside in under a minute. The prototype cost $165, but mass production of the final version of the oven could drop the price significantly. The food company initiated the portable microwave to heat its products after surveys revealed that around 70% of office workers find it difficult to leave their desks and go out for lunch each day. (National Examiner)

BIRTHDAYS
In 1886 Religious leader, Father Edward Joseph Flanagan (founded Boys Town)
In 1928 Actor, Bob Crane (Colonel Hogan-Hogan's Heros) [d: 5-29-78]
In 1942 Actor, Harrison Ford (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Fugitive) (67)
In 1954 Country singer, Louise Mandrell (Mandrell Sisters) (55)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1865 Horace Greeley advises his readers to "Go West."
In 1977 New York City experiences a 25-hour black-out after lightning strikes upstate power lines.
In 1978 Henry Ford II fires Lee Iacocca as president of Ford Motor Company.
In 1993 Race car driver Davey Allison dies in Birmingham, AL, of injuries suffered in a helicopter crash.
In 1994 Olympic skater Tonya Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, is sentenced to two years in prison his role in the attack on Nancy Kerrigan. He only served six months.

Thursday July 2nd, 2009

2009-07-02T03:00:00.002-04:00

LAST MORNING SHOW BLOG
UNTIL JULY 13TH
I'm heading for the Carolina's tomorrow morning at 3:00 AM to visit my daughter and son-in-law.

The blog returns on Monday July 13th.
I hope our Canadian friends have a Great Canada Day Celebration and all the rest of my fellow Americans a wonderful 4th of July.
God Bless the United States of America and God Bless Canada

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Lawn Parties? No, Lawn Potties!
The planters in her front yard brought Tina Asmus national publicity last monthin Lakemoor, Ill. This week, they brought her a $25 fine. Asmus says she will go to court to fight to keep her lawn ornaments, which are made from two old toilets and a bathroom sink. The Police Chief said Asmus was issued the $25 noncompliance ticket Monday after a 30-day warning ticket expired. The ordinance violations cited by police range from grass that is too long to junk in front yards. Daily Herald

A Crime Watch
Authorities said a man walking through a security checkpoint at a Pinellas, Florida courthouse tried to steal an expensive watch, just feet from deputies. The sheriff's office reported that a man who had emptied his pockets to walk through a metal detector complained that his $1,000 Wittnauer watch was gone. Deputies played back a surveillance video and identified a 53-year-old man as the person who took the watch. They found him in a courtroom, attending a pretrial hearing for a charge of selling cocaine. Deputies searched him and reported finding the watch. The suspect was arrested and charged with grand theft. St. Petersburg Times

Johnny Depp, Garfield and Paris Hilton Walk Into A Bar...
What do Johnny Depp, Garfield, Paris Hilton and roast pork have in common? In China, the answer is that a new government-mandated Internet filter rates some pictures of all four of them as bad for your moral health. Beijing has ordered all personal computers sold in China from July 1 to be preinstalled with the Green Dam software, which it says is designed to block pornographic and violent images, and which critics fear will be used to extend censorship. When the software is installed, and an image scanner activated, it blocks even harmless images of a film poster for cartoon cat Garfield, dishes of flesh-color cooked pork and on one search engine a close-up of film star Johnny Depp's face. Green Dam has not detailed how it scans images for obscene content, but computer experts have said it likely uses color and form recognition to zoom in on potential expanses of naked flesh. Reuters

Up Your Clothes With A Rubber Hose
Authorities said a man has been charged with domestic battery after he drenched his wife with a garden hose and elbowed her for smoking in the house. An arrest report shows that the 51-year-old husband was officially charged for the hose incident. Police said the couple began arguing when the wife began smoking a cigarette in their home. When the victim picked up the phone and began calling a friend, authorities said the husband believed she was trying to call police and elbowed her in the mouth during a struggle to grab the phone. The woman was soaked with water when deputies arrived. The husband told deputies he had been watering the grass and did not intend to spray her. The Stuart News

It's On Fire. Good, No, Bad?
A vacant house in flames must have looked familiar to northwestern Ohio firefighters. Less than 24 hours earlier, they were at the same house putting out fires for a training exercise. The cause of the fire in the Toledo suburb of Sylvania is under investigation. On Tuesday morning, "controlled burn" fires had been set in the same house so four local lawmakers could suit up and accompany firefighters inside. The exercise was part of a program that gives officials a taste of what firefighting is like so they can understand fire department equipment and personnel needs. The Blade

Nothin' But Chips
Police are searching for three masked teens who burst into a southwestern Pennsylvania convenience store, but were content to steal only several bags of potato chips and bottles of soda. Uniontown police said the bandits struck about 12:45 a.m. at a Sunoco A Plus store. Police said the thieves dropped a bag of chips at the scene which will be analyzed for fingerprints and other evidence. Police have no suspects, but said all three were wearing dark hooded sweatshirts. Herald-Standard

Happy Independence Day! Where's My Gun?
Independence day fireworks sent terrified Congolese (people of the Congo) sprinting for cover on Tuesday in fear that war had broken out again in their eastern city. Officials had organized the display in Goma to highlight efforts to end more than a decade of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and to show a sign of normal life returning to the region, where a peace deal took hold in January. But residents feared it was a raging gun battle. Reuters

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Thursday Stuff
• The Jackson family is going to put Michael's body on display for a public viewing tomorrow at the Neverland Ranch. Burial will follow at a private location.
• Michael Jackson's 7-year-old will was filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court, giving his entire estate to a family trust. The will, dated July 7, 2002, estimated his estate at that time at more than $500 million.
• Karl Malden, who starred in "The Streets of San Francisco" with Michael Douglas and "Patton" with George C. Scott, has died at age 97.
• A dog flu has been quietly spreading in the upper northeast section of the U.S.
• Usher's wife says she was surprised when he filed for divorce last month and said they were intimate just two weeks before he filed.
• Don't cancel those Michael Jackson London shows yet. There's word the family would perform to meet the dates: brothers, sister and other stars influenced by the late singer. More to come.
• Justin Timberlake is going to star in Guy Ritchie's next movie.
• You saw her on "The Sopranos" and then "Joey"... now Drea de Matteo is joining the cast of "Desperate Housewives."
• The annual Editorial Cartoonists Convention is underway this week in Seattle through Saturday.
• For 40 years, Utah required customers to fill out an application, pay a fee and become a member of a private club before they were allowed to set foot in a bar. As of this week, that's all been dropped... and now, you just have to show ID.
• Air New Zealand is now showing pre-flight videos featuring flight attendants with body-painted uniforms. They hope it'll get passengers to pay attention to the safety message.
• Magician Lance Burton has signed a contract extension that'll keep him in Las Vegas for another six years.

DO YOU GET CAR SICK?
If you're feeling a bit carsick, there may be a perfectly good reason for it. Your car is filled with bacteria -- all over the steering wheel, the dashboard and gear shift. In a survey of car owners, microbiologists from Aston University in Birmingham, England, found that the typical car has 283 different types of bacteria in every square centimeter. The gear shift has has the most with 356 germs per square centimeter. Not surprisingly, the cars where children and pets frequently ride not only have the highest amount of bacteria, but also the greatest range of types of bacteria.

• We spend, on average, about three years of our life in our cars.
• 25% eat in their cars at least once a week.
• 25% admit their car is littered with food wrappers and empty drink bottles and cans.
• 16% confessed they typically leave uneaten food inside the vehicle instead of throwing it in the trash.
• 50% agreed they would never let their home get as dirty as their car.

HOW’S YOUR SPELLING?
So what one word in the English language is most frequently misspelled? It's "supersede." That's the word from Collins Dictionaries of Britain, which admittedly has made this pronouncement based-only on an estimation. Still, the company says "supersede" is misspelled one out of every 10 times it is used because many other words with phonetically similar endings, such as "intercede" and "precede," are spelled with the letter "c" instead of "s." Using a software program that analyzed thousands of documents on the Internet, including published books, blogs and news articles, the Collins Dictionaries researchers were able to identify "supersede" as the most misspelled word. Runners-up are: conscience, indict, foreign, mortgage and phlegm.

HOT STUFF – STATS

• 134 degrees Fahrenheit is the highest recorded temperature in the United States in Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913.
• 158 degress Fahrenheit is the temperature at which you can fry an egg on the sidewalk.
• 160 days is the length of the world's longest heat wave, the temperature reached or exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit each day between October 31, 1923 to April 7, 1924, in Marble Bar, Australia.
• You can save 30 percent by switching from air conditioners to fans.
• 1941 is the year the modern formulation for antiperspirant was patented.

HOW ARE YOU AT FORGIVING?
It turns out that forgiveness is hard to do and men just might be better at it than women. When men who have done the same naughty deed put themselves in an offender's shoes, they find it easier to forgive. But for women, empathy has the opposite effect. If we've committed the same transgression, the other person's offense actually seems less forgivable. "It's possible that women feel more shame when remembering their own offenses," says study author Julie Juola Exline, Ph.D., associate professor at Case Western Reserve University. Viewing someone else's action as worse than your own is an attempt to ease feelings of guilt over your wrongdoing, she says. So if you're finding it hard to forgive, try forgiving yourself first.

DO YOU EVER HAVE A TOUGH TIME GOING TO SLEEP

• Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
• Avoid exercising closer than five or six hours before bedtime.
• Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol before bed.
• Avoid large meals and beverages late at night.
• Don't take naps after 3 p.m.
• Relax before bed, taking time to unwind with a hot bath, a good book or soothing music.
• If you're still awake after more than 20 minutes in bed, get up and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy. Anxiety over not being able to sleep can make it harder to fall asleep.

LADIES, ARE YOU JEALOUS?
Women's Health magazine's The Average Woman ask: "What happens when the green-eyed monster (JEALOUSY) rears its ugly head?" Here's what they found out:

• 33% of women have in a fit of jealousy, stopped speaking to a friend
• 50% of women consider themselves "a jealous person"
• 62% of women have kept their jealous feelings bottled up
• 67% of women would be upset if their boyfriend had drinks with an ex
• 35% of women would be pissed off if their guy chatted up a single woman at a party
• 42% of women are suspicious when their man goes on a business trip, to ease her fears she'll ask him specifics about what he did, where he was, and whom he met
• 53% of women have called their guy unexpectedly just to see if he picks up
• 60% of women obsessively check their man's Facebook page for evidence of foul play
• 10% of women have purchased something they could not afford because a friend has it
• 21% of women have trouble getting excited for a friend when something great happens to her
• 8% of women claim they never get jealous

FIREWORKS TRIVIA
• 190 million pounds of fireworks sold in America each year.
• 8 million dollars in damage incurred annually by fireworks in America.
• $40,000 is the average cost in dollars of a 20-minute professional pyrotechnic display.
• 10,000 Americans injured by fireworks accidents each year.
• 18 is the minimum age required to buy fireworks in Tennessee.
• You'll get 6 blows from a cane for smuggling fireworks into Singapore.
• The first use of fireworks in America was by Captain John Smith in 1608.
• The first fireworks were made in China about 2000 years ago.
• Fireworks can be made to burst in shapes like rings or stars by mixing chemicals and oxidizers into marble-size balls and packing them in to the shells.
• Colored fireworks were invented by the Italians in the 1830's.
• Black powder the most common explosive in fireworks, ignites at just over 600 degrees Fahrenheit.
• 90 percent of all fireworks used in the U.S. are imported from China.
• An average professional firework blast lasts around two seconds.
• The Japanese word for firework is literally translated as "fire-flower."
• The largest string of fireworks ever assembled was made in Malaysia. It was 18,777 feet long, used over three million individual fireworks, and exploded for nine hours and 27 minutes.
• Sparklers burn at a toasty 1,200 degrees.
• High aerial shells, the most common type of firework, generally go off about 2,600 feet in the air. Roman candles only travel up to 300 feet before exploding.
• According to recent studies, fireworks are less dangerous than skiing, surfing, rock climbing, scuba diving and fishing.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1922 Comedian, Dan Rowan (Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In) [d: 9-22-87]
In 1929 Former Phillipine first lady, Imelda Marcos (80)
In 1932 Businessman, Dave Thomas (founded Wendys) [d: 1-8-02]
In 1937 Auto racer, Richard Petty (7-time Daytona 500 winner) (72)
In 1951 Actress, Cheryl Ladd (Kris Munroe-Charlie's Angels) (58)
In 1964 Baseball player, Jose Canseco (A's, Rangers) (45)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1566 French astrologer, physician and prophet Nostradamus dies in Salon.
In 1776 The Continental Congress passes a resolution saying "these United Colonies are, and of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States."
In 1937 Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappear over the Pacific Ocean, while attempting to make the round-the-world flight at the equator.
In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act. In 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act.
In 1997 Actor Jimmy Stewart ("It's A Wonderful Life") dies at age 89.

2009-07-01T03:00:00.001-04:00

TO OUR MANY CANADIAN READERS - - - HAPPY CANADA DAY

DID YOU ALSO KNOW THAT

July is Hot Dog Month

• The number of hot dogs Americans eat every year. (20 billion)
• The number of hot dogs that the average American eats every year. (70)
• If you took those hot dogs and laid them end-to-end, the number of times they would circle the earth at the Equator. (27)
• The year that Frankfurt, Germany, claims the frankfurter was invented. (1487)
• The length (in feet) of the longest hot dog ever created. To celebrate the 4th of July this year, Chicago-based Vienna Beef assembled the world's longest hot dog, measuring 16 feet, 1 inch. This beat the previous record of 15 feet, 3 inches recorded in Pennsylvania in 2001.

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Checking: Doggie Style
A woman accused of stealing money from her ex-husband's bank account blames her dog. Police in Arlington, Washington learned the money disappearing from the 42-year-old Arlington man's account was being used to pay for utility bills and other items at his ex-wife's home. The woman told The Herald that the woman's first response was, "Her dog got into her purse and ate all her personal checks." The 50-year-old woman reportedly told police she had no choice but to take money from her former husband's account. The women is under investigation for identity theft and forgery. (FoxNews)

Pig Ends Up Poolside
An 800-pound hog that survived on its own for a week after a truck flipped while on its way to a slaughterhouse has been found in a swimming pool at a home near the crash site. A neighbor said Monday she noticed her pool was suddenly overflowing and then saw the immersed pig, which was having a drink in the pool. The woman said she found a farmer to take in the pig. A spokesman for Odom's Tennessee Pride said it can't use the hog in its sausage products because no one knows what the hog had been eating in its week on the lam, or should we say pool lounger? (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

Mary Jane's Value Meal
Connecticut police have arrested a teen, accusing him of selling marijuana and packing it in a Chicken McNugget box. Police said the teen and three customers were nabbed after a police officer spotted some suspicious activity over the weekend. Police said the teen grew marijuana in his apartment and packaged the dope in McNugget boxes. The arrests came after one alleged customer was spotted coming out of the teen's apartment building with the McNugget box. (The Register Citizen)

Gentlemen, Count Your Swans!
Buckingham Palace has announced that the annual Swan Upping, a tradition dating back to the 12th century which involves a count of the swan population on the River Thames, will be conducted by the queen's official Swan Marker from July 20-24. The process involves the Swan Marker, David Barber, rowing up the Thames for five days with the Swan Warden in traditional garb while wearing special scarlet uniforms and counting, weighing and measuring swans and cygnets. It may seem eccentric, but it is very important to the queen. In medieval times, the Swan Marker would not only travel up the river counting the swans, but would catch as many as possible as they were sought-after for banquets and feasts. (Reuters)

Bus Bash For Michael
A fight broke out on a Florida bus when news of Michael Jackson's death sparked debate over whether he should be remembered as a great musical talent, and one passenger was charged with assault. The bus was moving through the city of North Lauderdale on Thursday when passenger James Kiernan received a text message about Jackson's death on his cell phone, and he read it aloud on the bus. The =bus driver chimed in that "Michael Jackson should have been in jail long ago," prompting Kiernan, 60, to say that "the world just lost a great musical talent." It said the last remark enraged another passenger, Henry Wideman, who started a swearing match with Kiernan, then pulled out a knife and chased Kiernan down the aisle with it. The driver called his dispatcher and pulled over near a convenience store to wait for sheriff's deputies, who arrested Wideman, 54. (YourNewz)

Look Out, Incredibly Slow Train A Comin!
Birmingham police said a 22-year-old woman has suffered a broken leg after being hit by a train. Officer Lawrence Billups said the woman told police she was lying on the tracks "to clear her mind" when the train approached around 7 a.m. Sunday. Billups said the CSX train was moving about 10 mph when it hit her. The train's operator told police he tried to stop. How quick do you have to be to get out of the way of a slow moving train? (The Birmingham News)

Never Steal from The Hands That Heal You
A boy was arrested over the weekend on charges of stealing from an ambulance while paramedics were treating his mother. The Johnson City Press reported the boy, who was not named because he is a juvenile, was charged with stealing $5,000 in medical supplies. That includes an oxygen tank and an oxygen sensor machine. He is also accused of stealing a purse belonging to one of the rescue workers and of breaking into a car several hours earlier and stealing credit cards, a cellular phone and a PlayStation portable video game. (Johnson City Press)

Failing The Employee Of The Month Quiz
Spanish police have arrested a man whom they suspect hired a contract killer to murder his boss in a desperate bid to avoid being laid off, newspaper El Pais reported. The head of audiovisual services at the Barcelona International Convention Center contracted a Colombian man who shot and killed the director of the convention center on Feb 9, according to police. The director had planned to lay off the arrested man as part of a restructuring project. (El Pais)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Wednesday Stuff
• The first photo of Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick's twins has surfaced. A nice diversion from the whole Michael Jackson thing.
• Heroes co-star Hayden Panettiere appears totally naked in her new film, "I Love You, Beth Cooper."
• "The Bachelor" cast-off Melissa Rycroft has a new fiance, Tye Strickland. The 28-year-old insurance agent and has been dating Rycroft on and off for 2 1/2 years.
• Michael Jackson claimed to have a net worth of $236 million in March, 2007, but had little cash on hand to finance his lavish lifestyle. Jackson had $567.6 million in assets, including his Neverland Ranch, along with his share of the Sony/ATV Music Publishing catalogue.
• Michael Jackson funeral plans are still taking shape, but among the ideas tossed out: burying him in a glass coffin, so his fans could see him one more time.
• Eddie Van Halen, married 39-year-old publicist Janie Liszewski over the weekend. Among the guests: Valerie Bertinelli, Eddie's ex.
• Yoko Ono is the rightful copyright holder of rare, intimate footage showing John Lennon and his family in London in 1970, a federal judge has ruled.
• Diane Keaton had a blow to the head on the set of her latest movie, which meant a quick trip to the E.R., but all appears to be fine.
• There was actually a report going around Monday that said George Clooney had been found dead. George says, "Not true!"
• After a six month medical leave, Steven Jobs is back at work at Apple.
• Just released on DVD: the 1982 movie, "Lookin' In to Get Out," which features a 7-year-old Angelina Jolie.
• What ever happened to Michael Jackson's chimp, Bubbles? He's alive and well and living down in an animal sanctuary in Florida.
• Fox is reportedly offering upwards of $100-million to $144-million a year for Simon Cowell to stay on "American Idol" after his contract expires next May.
• The FDA is looking at putting new restrictions on Tylenol and other over the counter pain medications. Seems, despite all the warnings, people continue to overdose on them, causing liver failure.

ARE YOU A DAY DREAMER?
If you think daydreamers are wasting time you're wrong. New scientific studies say they're actually hard at work. "People assume that when the mind wanders away it just gets turned off, but we show the opposite," says neuroscientist Kalina Christoff. Using magnetic resonance imaging, Christoff's team of researchers found that when the brain wanders, it's actually working to solve problems. In fact, daydreaming may be a better way of solving problems than by intensely focusing on them, says Christoff of Canada's University of British Columbia. "People who let themselves daydream might not think in the same focused way as when performing a goal oriented task," she explains. "But they bring in more mental and brain resources." She says people shouldn't think of done. (National Examiner)

THE SAFEST CAR EVER BUILT WILL BE ON THE ROAD IN 2010
Volvo boasts that by 2020 it'll have an accident proof car on the road. The car has been 10 years in development and the first commerical version will make its debut as early as next year. It's equipped with state of the art radar, a foolproof camera and a computer driven control system that will stop the car before a collision occurs even if the driver is asleep at the wheel. The radar and the camera will constantly monitor the road ahead, measuring the speed and direction of other vehicles and keeping an electronic eye out for wayward pedestrians. If the system senses a problem, it signals the computer, which activates the brakes. So far, the safety devices work only with traffic moving in the same direction or across the path of the car. Future versions will be able to handle on coming traffic as well. (Sun)

TOP CAR REPAIR SCAMS
The automotive experts on Men's Health panel nominated the following three dubious jobs as common ways men are suckered out of cash. Be wary of the shop it the mechanics insist on:

• Replacing brake rotors -- squealing breaks mean you need new pads, not rotors. Bad rotors will be grooved or warped. Ask to see them before you decide to replace.
• Installing new shock absorbers -- shocks should last 30,000 miles. If you push down on every corner of the car and it bounces just once or twice, you're good.
• Hiding removed parts -- Ask to see the parts that were removed. Good shops routinely produce them. If the parts are gone, you may have been had.

THE FACTS OF FIGHT
Spats are inevitable in a relationship, but they're nothing to get heated up about, says Redbook Love Network expert David B. Wexler, Ph.D., author of "When Good Men Behave Badly." "It's not the arguing but the way you argue that can be a problem," says Wexler. "Dirty arguing, nonstop arguing, or refusing to forgive, none of these are good.

Here are the facts on couples and their disagreements, from a onepoll.com survey of 5,000 people:

• Couples have 182 arguments per year, and each dispute lasts an average of 25 minutes, that's a total of three solid days.
• Top reasons for arguments are chores, not listening, and lack of sex.
• 66 percent of people say regular arguments help to clear the air.
• During their first year together, couples are most likely to jump into bed to get over a fight, whereas years down the line, a quick apology will do the trick. Maybe that's why newlyweds fight so often.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1934 Actor, Jamie Farr (Cpl. Maxwell Klinger-M*A*S*H) (75)
In 1945 Singer/actress, Deborah Harry (Blondie) (64)
In 1952 Actor, Dan Akroyd (SNL, Blues Brothers, Ghostbusters, Soul Man) (57)
In 1961 Track athelete, Carl Lewis (Olympic-9 Gold-1984, 88, 92, 96) (48)
In 1961 Princess Diana [Frances Spencer] (Princess of Wales) [d: 8-31-97]
In 1961 Country singer/guitarist, Michelle Wright (48)
In 1967 Actress, Pamela Anderson (Home Improvement, Baywatch, Stacked) (42) But certain parts of her aren’t.
In 1992 Twin actors, Andrew & Stephen Cavarno (Owen-Party Of Five) (17)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1862 Congress outlaws polygamy (multiple marriages). Personally I have always believed in monogamy. It was an easy thing for me to do because my coffee and end tables were made out of it.
In 1863 The Civil War Battle of Gettysburg begins.
In 1984 The first broadcast of children's network Nickelodeon's "Nick At Nite" with classic TV episodes.
In 1991 Actor Michael Landon dies of cancer at the age of 54.
In 1996 Actress Margaux Hemingway, 41, is found dead in her Santa Monica, California, apartment.
In 1997 Hong Kong reverts back to Chinese rule after 156 years under British colonial government.
In 1997 Actor Robert Mitchum dies at age 79.
In 2000 Actor Walter Matthau dies in Santa Monica, CA, at age 79.
In 2004 Actor Marlon Brando ("The Godfather," "Superman") dies at age 80.

Tuesday June 30th, 2009

2009-06-30T03:00:00.003-04:00

National Blonde Day -- Men of all ages love the stereotypical blonde. She's a fantasy that's here to stay. Here are some blonde facts for you:

• American adults who are naturally blonde: 5%
• World population that is naturally blonde: 2%
• Finish population that is naturally blonde: 30%
• American women who color their hair who choose blonde: 42%
• 2004 Playboy centerfolds who are blonde: 40%
• Miss America winners who are blonde: 24%
• Women who think the first female president will have brown hair: 76%
• Blondes who think they are more popular with men: 91%
• Men who think blondes have better love lives than other women: 18%
• Year by which natural blondes may be extinct: 2202

The List of “Who Is/Who Isn’t Natural” appears at the end of thIs mornings “Dick Reeves Morning Show” blog

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Catch Me With Your Camera If You Can!
I don't think you'd leave a tip, after being a tourist in this van service. Some guys were running an unauthorized New York airport van service that took five French tourists on a high speed chase in an attempt to run from police. Police approached the van as some tourists got in. The police wanted to investigate the owners of the service for "hustling" travelers outside the Air France terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport. As the police approached, the driver drove off, ignoring pleas by the tourists to be let out. The van swerved through traffic, sped though stop signs and red lights, and traveled at speeds of 60 miles per hour on crowded residential streets. The men were also charged with assault, reckless endangerment, and resisting arrest. If convicted, they face up to seven years in prison.(Reuters)

Hello, 911? I Have Cheetos Up My Nose
You've heard of food fights, but you've probably never heard of one like this. Police said there was a couple in Shelby, Tennessee who got into an argument. They exchanged some words with one another and decided to start a food fight too! The police told reporters that they did get into a food fight, with Cheetos. Somehow, the orange puffy snacks were used in the assault. The guy wound up with one all the way up his nose into his sinus cavity. Police they were charged with domestic assault. No one was hurt, but the man was cheesed! You would think he was some sort of a cheese whiz!(NewsBlaze)

How Hot Is It?
It's so hot in Clayton, Georgia, that even the former mayor is getting naked! A former Georgia mayor was busted in the buff at a Rabun County campsite. The state's Department of Natural Resources officers found him sitting nude around the campsite. The police actually had a complaint about a naked man earlier in the day. The former mayor said, he wasn't the same man though. The mayor told the officer that he had been swimming in a nearby creek.(myway.com)

That's One Spicy Grenade!
Scientists at India's Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) are quoted as saying that spicy chili can be used to control rioters and in counter-insurgency operations. Defense researchers say the idea is to replace explosives in small hand grenades with a certain variety of red chili to immobilize people without killing them. The chili, known as Bhut Jolokia, is said to be 1,000 times hotter than commonly used kitchen chili. And the powder will also be spread on the fences around army barracks in the hope the strong smell will keep out animals.(Ananova)

Banned For Being Nice, Bear-ly
One woman in Oregon, Karen Noyes often fed the black bears that came to her home near the Oregon coast. Then things got out of hand. One hungry bear stormed a neighbor's barn and killed 60 turkeys. Another got stuck in a doggie door. The 61-year-old Noyes was convicted of harassing wildlife and sentenced Thursday to three years probation.(MSNBC)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tuesday Stuff
• Honduras is the new hot spot on the globe. Shady election results, the military has ousted the president... hang on.
• Wednesday is the rumored day for Michael Jackson's funeral, with burial at the Neverland Ranch.
• "Dancing With the Stars" judge Len Goodman, 65, is recovering from prostate surgery to remove a cancerous tumor.
• Comedian, Fred Travalena, the "Man of a Thousand Faces," who appeared numerous times on the Johnny Carson show in the 70's and early 80's, has died at his home in Encino, CA, from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was 66.
• Britain's Prince Harry enjoyed a date last week with singer Natalie Imbruglia.
• "Ugly Betty's" Ana Ortiz welcomed a daughter into the world last week, Paloma Louise.
• Time hasn't released a special edition since 9-11... but there's one out this week for the passing of Michael Jackson.
• Rapper Coolio has pled guilty in Los Angeles to felony cocaine possession which requires him to spend 18 months in rehab.
• Chevrolet is enjoying high demand for its 2010 Camaro. Can't make 'em fast enough.
• Bon Jovi and bandmate Richie Sambora have recorded a version of Ben E. King's classic "Stand by Me" with Iranian superstar Andy Madadian, to be broadcast in Iran.
• Two California minor league teams set a new record for most runs scored in a game last Saturday night. Final score: 33-18.
• Hackers broke into Ellen DeGeneres and Britney Spears' Twitpic accounts and posted phony information.
• In Sweden, a new law was passed that allows Swedish women to go topless in public swimming pools.
• NASA has uncovered some better quality video of the moon landing 40 years ago. Should release it soon.

COLA CAN CAUSE SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES
Oh no! Drinking too much cola can cause chronic potassium depletion and lead to muscle weakness or even paralysis. Patients studied by doctors consumed from two to nine liters of cola per day. Muscle complaint ranged from mild weakness to paralysis, in addition to extremely low blood potassium levels, according to investigators at Greece's University of Ioannina. "Fortunately," says Dr. Moses Elisaf, "all patients had a rapid and complete recovery" after they stopped drinking cola and took potassium supplements. An estimated tens of millions of people in industrialized countries consume at least two to three liters of cola soft drinks per day. (National Enquirer)

INDEPENDENCE DAY STATS
Woman's Day gives us these Independence Day stats:

• 1st as the occasion for the country's highest beer sales
• 25 copies of the Declaration of Independence are known to exist. No originals with the famous signatures are know to remain.
• 31 towns in the U.S. that have the word Liberty in their name.
• 14,000 public fireworks displays in the U.S. to celebrate the holiday.
• 150 million is the estimated number of hot dogs Americans consumed last Fourth of July.

AMERICAN FLAG ETIQUETTE
Here are some tips to make sure your tribute is a respectful one:

• Display the flag only between sunrise and sunset on buildings and stationary flagstaffs. The flag may be displayed for twenty-four hours if illuminated in darkness.
• Do not display the flag in inclement weather.
• Whether displaying the flag vertically or horizontally, make sure the canton of stars is visible on the upper left-hand side.
• Do not let the flag touch the ground.
• An unusable flag that is damaged and worn and can no longer be displayed should be destroyed in a dignified way by burning.
• When not on display, the flag should be respectfully folded into a triangle, symbolizing the tricorn hats worn by colonial soldiers in the Revolutionary War.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1917 Singer/actress, Lena Horne (Stormy Weather, The Wiz) (92)
In 1917 Bandleader/drummer, Buddy Rich (Buddy Rich Band) [d: 4-2-87]
In 1942 Explorer/author, Robert Ballard (discovered sunken Titantic) (67)
In 1966 Boxer, "Iron" Mike Tyson (undisputed heavyweight champ 1987-90) (43)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1859 French acrobat Blondin, born Jean Francois Gravelet, crosses Niagara Falls on a tightrope as 5,000 spectators watched. What some people won't do to get out of paying admission. The sad part was he forgot his passport and had to go back the same way.
In 1870 Ada Kepley of Effingham, Illinois, becomes America's first female law school graduate.
In 1936 The novel "Gone With the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell is published.
In 1952 "The Guiding Light," a popular radio program, makes its debut as a TV soap opera on CBS.
In 1994 The U.S. Figure Skating Association strips Tonya Harding of the 1994 national championship and bans her from the organization for life for an attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan.

WHO IS/WHO ISN’T A NATURAL BLONDE?

• Drew Barrymore (natural)
• Cameron Diaz (natural)
• Lucy Lui (duh!)
• Demi Moore (c'mon, next!)
• Winona Ryder (natural, she's dyed it since age 12)
• Reese Witherspoon (natural)
• Christina Aguilera (natural)
• Mandy Moore (natural, dyed brown for "A Walk To Remember")
• Marilyn Monroe (not)
• Kirsten Dunst (natural)
• Sarah Michelle Gellar (not)
• Lucy Lawless (natural, she died it black to be Xena)
• Jessica Simpson (natural)
• Christina Applegate (natural)
• Shakira (not -- black, dyed red, then blonde)
• Jenny McCarthy (not)
• Jordan Ladd (natural, but dyes her hair black)
• Anna Kournikova (natural)
• Britney Spears (not, dyed blonde)
• Gillian Anderson (natural, Scully dyed it red for the X-Files)
• Sharon Stone (Yep! Natural)

Monday June 29th, 2009

2009-06-29T03:00:00.000-04:00

FUN THINGS TO DO AT THE DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW

• Drive through backwards.
• Belch your order.
• After ordering, cover the speaker and mic with transparent tape. Watch as customers and order- takers are unable to hear each other and, thus, each raises his/her volume.
• Barter. Offer a Whopper for a Big Mac.
• Walk through.
• Speak a foreign language (make one up if you have to). When the manager comes to the mike, speak English and inquire as to why the order taker had such difficulty understanding you.
• Repeat everything the order-taker says.
• Attempt to take the order-takers order ("Hi, may I take your order?") before they get a chance to take yours.
• Order confusing items, i.e., "Hi, I'll have a large orange Coke and a small medium fries, please."
• In a crowded drive-through line, place a HUGE order, then slip out of line and watch the fun as the person behind you is handed 40 bags of food.
• When you arrive at the window to pick up your food, hand them several bags of garbage & ask if they'll dispose of it for you. Make sure it smells.
• Drive through with a carload of naked people.
• Speak in such a garbled fashion that the order-taker will think there is a problem with the speaker and ask you to order at the window. When you arrive at the window, speak in the same garbled, incomprehensible fashion.
• Drive through with someone on the hood to accept the food.
• Bring along a Mr. Microphone. When the order-taker speaks, aim the mike at their speaker but do so while aiming the Mr. Microphone speaker at the mike to produce excruciating feedback of their own voice.
• One word: Flatulence.
• Have a friend hide in the trunk. When you approach the window to pickup your order, have him start yelling and banging his fists on the trunk.
• If you are a male, have a female friend place the order by speaking very seductively and suggestively into the speaker. When she finishes, have her hide and pull up to accept your order. See how many of the order-takers fellow employees have been called over to the window to "check out the babe."
• Change a flat tire in the drive-through lane.

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
1) Eating an apple just 15 minutes before a meal can help dieters lose weight. A study published in the journal appetite found that folks who snacked on an apple ate 15% less if they were given a plate full of food afterward. But while eating apples cut their calorie intake, drinking apple juice made no difference. Researchers believe this is because the fruit contains fibrous bulk that suppresses appetite. (Globe)

2) Teenagers obsessed with TV, cell phones, computers and iPods are consuming energy drinks to keep them pumped far into the night. "We found that as these adolescents multitask into the night, they also consume caffeine, and it affects their sleep dramatically," said study chief Christina Calamaro at Philadelphia's Drexel University. The study found that a whopping 80 percent of teenagers were getting less than eight hours of sleep a night and 15% averaged only four or five hours per night. Calamaro recommends that parents limit technological devices including cell phones in the bedroom at night and try and get their kids to reduce or eliminate evening caffeine consumption. (National Enquirer)

3) Within the next 10 years , you won't be buying pre-packaged fruits and vegetables you'll be picking them fresh off the vine, right in your local supermarket. Today, it takes four or five days for produce to get from a farmer's filed to a store shelf. During that time, the food loses freshness and nutritional value. but in the future, fruits and vegetables will be grown in hydroponic pods. Instead of soil, the pods will use a special solution to nourish the plants, which can be transported to stores while they're still growing. Shoppers will just pluck what they need, bag it themselves and be on their way. The first truly fresh produce to appear in supermarkets will likely include peppers, berries, beans, peas, tomatoes and mushrooms. (Sun)

4) If you want to lose weight, try putting more curry in your food. The spice tumeric, a main ingredient in curry, has an active ingredient that seems to reduce obesity by inhibiting the growth of blood vessels that nourish new fat tissue. The magic substance in curcumin, a plant based chemical that is easily absorbed into the body. And in a study at Tufts University in Boston, lab mice fed a high fat diet showed how well it works. Half got 500 milligrams of curcumin added to their food, and at the end of the 12 week session they would up weighing less that the other group. Researchers found that the lighter mice grew fewer blood vessels and also had lower cholesterol. "Weight gain is the result of growth and an expansion of fat tissue, which cannot happen unless blood vessels form," says senior researcher Mohsen Meydani. "Based on our data, curcumin suppresses that activity." (National Examiner)

5) Jet lag may be a home team's best advantage pro baseball squads that have to travel through three time zones lose 60 percent of their games. A study of 10 years of Major League Baseball scores reveals teams were more likely to drop games if they were severely jet lagged. And teams that travel one or two time zones lose 52 percent of the time. "There's clearly an advantage to becoming acclimated to your time zone," says study author Dr. W. Christopher Winter, medical director of the Sleep Medicine Center at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. The information may help fans of the Seattle Mariners come to grips. As of this writing, the team had the worst record in baseball, dropping 65 percent of its games. And while baseball could never afford to give teams a day off for every time zone they travel through, Winter thinks baseball should consider eliminating games in which one team has to travel through three time zones to play another team, or at least give players as much time as possible between a flight and the start of the game. (National Examiner)

6) Boosting your brainpower can be as easy as chatting with a friend. Even 10 minutes of talk time made participants in a study score higher on over all intelligence, memory and problem solving tests, researchers recently found. "Conversation gives you the same benefits as doing mind strengthening puzzles and brainteasers," says Piotr Winkielman, Ph.D., study coauthor and professor of psychology at the University of California at San Diego. That's because both activities require you to respond to new information and make connections between different ideas. Socializing not only increases your short term smarts but builds improved longer term cognitive abilities. Though face time is best, researchers speculate you can still reap some of the rewards via phone or e-mail. (Ladies' Home Journal)

7) Intense stress can quite literally cause a mental meltdown. Acute bursts of stress like the kind you feel right after hearing really bad news or experiencing a traumatic event slow the memory and learning centers in your brain for up to an hour after the initial feelings have subsided. Recent research from the University of California at Irvine shows that this type of stress triggers the release of a brain chemical known as CRH, which prevents cells from communicating and thereby renders you unable to process and store information. To ease CRH's brain numbing effects, try to hold off on crucial decisions until you're feeling calmer and the chemical has worn off. (Ladies' Home Journal)

8) Experts say eating a big breakfast stacked with carbs and plenty of protein could be just what the doctor ordered for people to lose weight and keep it off. But then for the rest of the day, a low-carb, low-calorie diet is essential. A research team from the Virginia Commonwealth University joined up with Dr. Daniela Jakubowicz of the Hospital de Clinicas in Venezuela. They put 94 obese, inactive women on low-calorie, low-fat diets, but distributed carbs differently. Participants on the strict low-carb diet lost an average of 28 pounds, while the big breakfast group dropped 23 pounds on average. But after eight months the tables had turned and the low-carb study subjects regained 18 pounds. The big breakfast eaters, on the other hand, dropped another 16.5 pounds. When the results were tallied, the new diet group lost more than 21% of their body weight as opposed to 4.5% for the low-carb eaters. (National Examiner)

9) Computers make life so much easier, but experts warn hours spent typing away in front of a monitor can lead to a slew of physical ailments, including neck and back pain. Other symptoms in the arms, legs, head and chest, like sharp pains, tingling, spasms, soreness, stiffness and lack of muscle strength are all indicative of problems with the back or neck. Neck pain builds over time due to constant staring at a small area, or glancing from the screen to a document on your desk. Looking down at the keyboard can cause tiredness in muscles, and neck pain can set in more rapidly. But there are preventive measures you can take. Make sure your work station is properly set up, and take active breaks where you move around and stretch. Try not to assume one computer position a change is as good as a rest. Use a phone headset if possible to avoid cradling the handset between your head and shoulder, and get a document stand so you're not constantly looking down.

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Monday Stuff
• An apparent "secret library" of songs that Michael Jackson recorded for his children could be released now that he's gone.
• Jackson's three kids are currently in the custody of his mom, Katherine.
• An ER source at UCLA hospital said that Jackson aides told medics he had collapsed after an injection of potent Demerol.
• Sarah Jessica Parker and husband Matthew Broderick took home their twin girls from an Ohio hospital where a surrogate mother gave birth to them last week.
• Daniel Radcliffe says that dating girls his own age is "tiresome" and prefers ladies in their 20s.
• Cosmopolitan magazine reports women are drawn to men with a fresh scent, like baby powder.
• Whitney Houston's new album coming out September 1st will be titled, "I look to you."
• Did you know that Rhode Island's official name is "the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations." The legislature is looking at chopping off the Plantations part.
• Johnny Depp left a $4,000 tip at a Chicago restaurant, Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse, where and 15 people were celebrating a red carpet screening of his new movie "Public Enemies."
• If you drink one 8-ounce glass of low-sodium vegetable juice every day, it could help you to lose about four pounds in 12 weeks, according to researchers from the University of California, Davis.
• Drew Barrymore says she's been stalked... by two squirrels in the front yard of her L.A. home.

TRAVELING TO EUROPE BEWARE
If you plan to travel to Europe, beware. London has the worst food. Paris is the most overrated. And Brussels is the most boring. That's the word from a survey of 2,400 travelers conducted by the Web site “TripAdvisor” to find out what people think about major European cities. TripAdvisor spokesman Luke Fredberg said, "Despite London emerging as the dirtiest and most expensive city, its fantastic free attractions prove that you don't need to be a millionaire in order to enjoy the capital."

• Best Free Attractions: London, Rome and Barcelona
• Most Overrated: Paris, London, Dublin
• Most Underrated: Krakow, Bruges, Edinburgh
• Friendliest Locals: Dublin, Amsterdam, Edinburgh
• Least Friendly: Paris, London, Moscow
• Most Boring: Brussels, Zurich, Dublin
• Most Tourist Traps: London, Paris, Rome
• Most Romantic: Venice, Paris, Rome
• Most Expensive: London, Paris, Venice
• Best Bargain: Prague, Amsterdam, Istanbul
• Best Nightlife: London, Amsterdam, Barcelona
• Cleanest: Copenhagen, Zurich, Stockholm
• Dirtiest: London, Paris, Athens
• Best Cuisine: Paris, London, Rome
• Worst Cuisine: London, Moscow, Warsaw
• Best Architecture: Barcelona, Rome, London
• Ugliest Architecture: Warsaw, Berlin, Brussels
• Best Dressed: Paris, Rome, Madrid
• Worst Dressed: London, Dublin, Moscow

SOME AMERICAN STATS
Redbook offers these All American statistics for the fourth:

• In July 1776 the new United States had a population of 2.5 million the current U.S. population is 302 million.
• 38% of Americans don't know the name of the national anthem. If you're one of them, it's "The Star-Spangled Banner."
• 87 million Americans own an article of clothing that features an American flag.
• 80% of middle-income Americans believe it's still possible to achieve the American dream.

YES OR BS
Jot down your answers and see how you did.
(Answers appear at the bottom of today’s “Dick Reeves Morning Show” blog)

1. The National Civil Rights Museum is on the site of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, where Marin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968.
2. In baseball scorekeeping the letter S used to indicate a strikeout.
3. In rap slang, the meaning of "be geese" is to fly away like geese.
4. The Mountain Lion immigrates to Texas annually to participate in the largest gathering of mammals in the world.
5. The fictional city of Metropolis known as in the Superman comics and movies is called, The Big "Apricot".
6. Whoopi Goldberg provided the voice of Dory, the kindhearted tang fish with short-term memory loss, in the 2003 animated film Finding Nemo.
7. A player has to win seven in a row to win at the Grand Slam tennis event to take home the top trophy.
8. New York was the first city to have a subway.
9. Germany has the world's largest people.
10. In the show's opening credits of TV's "Taxi," Tony Danza is seen driving a cab.
11. Jimmy Carter had dogs named Tipsy, Tipler, and Drunkard, as well as Sweetlips and Truelove.
12. Taiwan was expelled from the United Nations in 1971.
13. The rearview mirror on cars had its beginning at the Indianapolis 500.
14. A newborn kangaroo is about 2 feet in length. (B.S., about 1 inch)
15. When a female horse and male donkey mate, the offspring is called a Mule.
16. When a male horse and female donkey mate, the offspring is called a Muley.
17. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, never phoned his wife or his mother, because they both were deaf.
18. In Pismo Beach, California, you can drive your car on the sand, unlike any other beach in the state.
19. The Yellowhammer, Alabama's state bird, is a type of Woodpecker.
20. The American Beauty Rose is a rich purplish red.

TO BE OR WANTED TO BE
• I wanted to be an assassin so I gave it a shot.
• I wanted to be a surgeon so I took a stab at it.
• I had an itch to open a calamine lotion factory, but I knew I would have to start from scratch.
• I wanted to be a podiatrist, but I got off on the wrong foot.
• I wanted to be a urologist, but had to flush the idea.
• I wanted to be a plumber, but it was only a pipe dream.
• I wanted to be a missionary cobbler, I figured I could save soles.
• I wanted to be a optometrist, but I didn't see eye to eye with the teacher.
• I wanted to be a barber or Proctologist, so I flipped a coin to see if it would be heads or tails.
• I wanted to be a food taster, but I bit off more than I could chew.
• I wanted to be a baker, but I couldn't raise the dough.
• I wanted to be a pilot, but it never took off.
• I wanted to be a librarian, but I shelved the idea.
• I wanted to be a butcher, but I backed into a meat grinder and got a little behind in my work.
• I wanted to be a dentist, but I was always down in the mouth.
• I wanted to be a tire salesman, but that went flat.
• I wanted to be a musician, but it ended up on a bad note.
• I wanted to be an accountant, but it just didn't add up.
• I wanted to be a belly dancer, but I couldn't shake the feeling.
• I wanted to be a computer programmer, but I couldn't hack it.
• I wanted to be a prostitute, but I got laid off.
• I wanted to work as a vacuum cleaner salesman, but the job really sucked.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1861 American surgeon, William James Mayo (Mayo Clinic)
In 1919 Actor, Slim Pickens (Dr. Strangelove, Blazing Saddles) [d: 12-8-83]
In 1944 Actor, Gary Busey (Buddy Holly, Lethal Weapon, Point Break) (65)
In 1947 Singer/guitarist, Carlos Santana (Paper Lace) (62)

IT WAS ON THIS DAY
In 1863 The very first First National Bank opens in Davenport, Iowa.
In 1916 A Boeing aircraft flies for the first time.
In 1940 In the spring issue of "Batman Comics," mobsters rubbed out a circus highwire team known as the 'Flying Graysons,' leaving their son an orphan. Bruce Wayne took in Dick Grayson as his ward and he became Batman's sidekick Robin.

ANSWERS TO THIS MORNINGS YES OR BS
1. YES
2. BS (The letter K)
3. YES
4. BS (The Bat)
5. Yes
6. BS (It was comedian Ellen DeGeneres)
7. Yes
8. BS (Boston)
9. (B.S., The Netherlands - where the average man is about 6 feet 1 and the average woman is about 5 feet 7)
10. Yes
11. BS (George Washington)
12. Yes
13. Yes
14. BS (about 1”)
15. Yes
16. BS (It’s called a “Hinny”)
17. Yes
18. Yes
19. Yes
20. Yes

Friday June 26th, 2009

2009-06-26T03:00:00.003-04:00

WOMEN SURE ARE MOODY – DID YOU HEAR?
Megan McCallister has ended her relationship with her fiancee, Phillip Markoff, the accused "Craigslist Seriel Killer."

Personal note – “Boy, one arrest for being a serial killer and women just drop you like that. Who’d have thunk that? Women sure are heart breakers.”

TODAY’S TOPICALITY
Nothing More Fun Than A Stoned Wallaby!
A group of wallabies snacking in Tasmania's poppy fields are getting stoned out of their minds and hopping around in circles, trampling the crops! You may not know that Tasmania is the world's largest producer of legally grown opium for the pharmaceutical market. But the kangaroo-like animals are creating what appear to be large crop circles from their antics after eating the poppy plants and getting high as a kite. A manager for one of two Tasmanian companies licensed to take medicinal products from poppy straw said that wildlife and livestock-- including deer and sheep-- that eat the poppies are known to "act weird." Tasmania supplies about 50 percent of the world's raw material for morphine and related opiates. (myway.com)

People Different From You and Me!
In Tustin, California, police were called to an apartment complex gym where they found and arrested 45-yeasr-old Stephen Murdoch. First of all the gym was supposed to be closed and locked. Secondly, they found Murdoch dressed in a miniskirt, fishnet stockings and high heels--hiding behind exercise equipment and watching porn on his laptop. Police also noticed he was sweating profusely and talking quickly so they searched the gym bag he had with him and found marijuana, meth and drug pipes. Now that's what I call a workout! (myway.com)

Chase 'em Off With Porn!
In Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, police say 27-year-old Michael Buck was fed up with a group of kids playing in his cul-de-sac. So, to chase them off, he allegedly began blaring the audio soundtrack of a porn movie over loud speakers. Irate neighbors told police they could hear the sexually explicit audio as far as a block and a half away. So Buck now faces a felony obscenity charge and two misdemeanors for his stunt in the upscale neighborhood. Detective Tom Goggin says Buck had filed one previous complaint about the neighborhood children but unfortunately for him, last time we checked it wasn't illegal for kids to play outside. (myway.com)

Wake Up Or I'll Stab You!
In Kansas City, a 24-year-old man with a history of sleepwalking ended up getting stabbed by his girlfriend during his latest episode. Police said the victim's girlfriend awoke around 1:30 a.m. to find her boyfriend urinating in the closet. She said he had been intoxicated when he arrived at his apartment several hours earlier so she thought he was just drunk. Actually he was asleep and the girlfriend's repeated efforts to wake him up did no good. At one point he pushed her out of the way as he walked toward the kitchen, and she reportedly became scared that he might hit her. So she grabbed a knife and held it up as he approached. She ended up stabbing him in the face and shoulder but police said the injuries were believed to be non-life threatening. (The Kansas City Star)

Prisoner Escapes Using Cardboard Toilet Paper Tube!
Gotta at least give Curtis Jones of New Franklin, Missouri, props for creativity. Jones was serving time at the Howard County jail when he managed to escape using nothing more than a cardboard toilet paper tube. Authorities allege he used the folded cardboard to jam a door lock to his cell and then fled when a jailer went to another area in the building. He was eventually recaptured a couple of days later. Jones was originally being detained on a theft charge on suspicion of stealing anhydrous ammonia, a chemical used to manufacture methamphetamine. And he previously escaped in 1996 from the county's old jail in Fayette by climbing through a hole in the ceiling. (myway.com)

Sex For Chips?
Boy this economy is really making people do desperate things. Especially prostitutes in Oklahoma City. 36-yeasr-old Lahoma Sue Smith was arrested and fined $1,142 after pleading no contest to prostitution charges. She had been charged with accepting a case of potato chips in exchange for sex! Police found her in her car with her "john." The man told officers he didn't have any money so she agreed to accept a $30 case of chips as payment. (The Oklahoman)

Keep Your Goofy Mascots Off Our Streets!
In the great state of Ohio, the Tallmadge city council has proposed a nuisance ordinance that bans businesses from parading dancing employees dressed in costumes along city sidewalks to advertise their establishments. They say they've had enough of it and also received lots of complaints from citizens who hate the practice. Councilman James Donovan told reporters, "It's like a cartoon show out there. It's terrible." The new ordinance also covers barking dogs, playing musical instruments in public, nude swimming, dropping objects from highway overpasses, window peeping, public begging, immoral and indecent acts, and other generally annoying behavior. (AHN News)

Monkey Pees on President!
We've got a monkey peeing on a president! Fortunately-- not our president. Zambian president Rupiah Banda was holding a press conference outside his offices when a monkey in a tree above him took the unfortunate leak. President Banda kept his sense of humor and said, "I will give this monkey for lunch to Mr. Sata," referring to opposition leader Michael Sata. He then went on with the press conference on only the second of his presidency, and tried to reassure Zambians over the country's dramatic economic slowdown resulting from plunging prices for copper, the country's main export. (Ananova)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Friday Stuff
• Yesterday the world of entertainment loses two: Michael Jackson at the age of 50, and Farrah Fawcett at the age of 62.
• Billy Bob Thornton's daughter has been indicted for murder of a one-year-old girl she was baby sitting.
• Nielsen says David Letterman beat the "Tonight Show" last week, the first time in more than three years.
• Lenny Kravitz let Madonna stay in his luxurious French mansion when her adoption of the four-year-old Malawian child became too stressful and she needed to escape from the public eye.
• Next year for the Oscars, there will actually be ten nominees for "Best Picture," instead of the usual five.
• Now that everyone knows she lives in Martin's Ferry, Ohio, the paparazzi is all over the town, trying to catch photos of Sarah Jessica Parker's surrogate mother of her twins.
• Rosie O'Donnell is going to try a satellite radio show in the fall.
• The manager of the Black Eyed Peas -- the same guy who supposedly punched Perez Hilton in the eye -- is already on probation for a DUI.
• Courts may take the "8" away from "Jon and Kate." Would they still have a show?
• Singer Robbie Williams is being investigated by police in regards to a possible burglary in the Bahamas.
• Paul McCartney is going to perform in a benefit concert in Atlanta's Piedmont Park on August 15th. That oughta pack the place.

HOW DO WE NAME OUR PETS
When it comes to giving our pets names, about half of us choose human-like names, such as Jack or Sophie instead of Fido or Fluffy, according to an AP-Petside.com poll. While 49%, including 51% of dog owners and 50% of cat owners, had given at least one of their pets a human-like name, the other half did not. And some of those names are real doozies: Hollywood and Chichi Mittens, both cats; Vegas the Labrador Retriever; Jibber Jack the dog; the Beagle named Talulublue, and Louis XIV, the Yorkie. The most popular name in the poll was Max, which also came in #1 in the database of pet names that is maintained by Veterinary Pet Insurance.

WONDERING WHAT TO MAKE FOR DINNER
Wondering what to make for dinner? You may want to consult your iPhone or iPod Touch. The iFood Assistant from Kraft Foods is a download that, for a recession friendly 99 cents, lets you browse recipes by ingredients, meal type, and prep time. Cool features include how-to videos, a shopping list that sorts by food aisle, and a "recipe of the day" to inspire your inner Rachael Ray. Caveats: Brief ads are show before some of the cooking videos, and the recipes all include Kraft products you can make substitutions if you choose. (Good Housekeeping)

COULD YOU STAY SINGLE FOREVER
A Cosmopolitan web poll asked men, "Could you stay single forever?"

• 61.6% said no.
• 31.3% said only if I never meet he woman of my dreams.
• 7.1% said that's the plan.

WHAT KIND OF A DRIVER ARE YOU?
Almost all of us believe we are safe drivers, but 75% are guilty of DWD -- driving while distracted. According to a study from Nationwide Insurance, such distractions include talking on a cell phone, typing or reading a text message, daydreaming, adjusting music, eating and drinking. Almost 80% say they have been in a vehicle with a distracted driver behind the wheel, and more than 40% have been hit or almost hit by another driver who was talking on a cell phone while driving. The survey found that DWD can be squarely blamed on technology and our societal mindset to be available at all times. 48% considered cell phones to be the most dangerous distraction.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA
The 4th of July is coming up and Men's Health offers us these stats:

• 93% of men are proud to be American.
• 39% of men admit to having felt ashamed or embarrassed by their country at least once.
• 50% of men will shoot off their own fireworks.
• 48% of men can't sing the national anthem at ball games because they don't know the words.
• The most American food and drink according to the average guy is a hamburger and a Coke. Runners-up is a hot dog and a cold beer.
• 43% say football rules as America's pastime.
• 25% of men say they don't know what the American motto "E pluribus unum" means, it translation is "out of many, one."
• 75% of men claim they could correctly label all 50 states on a blank map.
• Order in which the average guy ranks the big three: God, family and country.

BIRTHDAYS
In 1819 Abner Doubleday, credited with inventing American Baseball
In 1892 American author, Pearl S. Buck (The Good Earth) (Nobel-1938)
In 1904 Actor, Peter Lorre (Casablanca, Casino Royale) [d: 3-23-64]
In 1974 Country singer, Gretchen Wilson (34)

Thursday June 25th, 2009

2009-06-25T03:00:00.002-04:00

Aaaaahhhhh! Some sunshine and a great cup of coffee sure help get the day off to a great start.

If you don't drink coffee, have a great day anyway!
Dick

TODAY’S TOPICALITYTV Co-Hosts: Can't We All Just Get Along?
Watching the WXOW-TV Morning News in La Crosse, Wisconsin, just got a lot more interesting. That's because morning news anchor Amy Dupont has been granted a temporary restraining order against her morning co-host, meteorologist Zach Brown! Dupont had received 21 harassing e-mails over the last two years from someone who signed the emails, "Mario." Mario continually wrote that he was sick of hearing about her child and she was bad at her job. But then the emails were traced back to a computer at her co-host's home. Zach Brown's roommate, Jonathan Edwards, admitted to sending the emails and said he felt DuPont was mean to Brown on the air and Brown never stuck up for himself. Brown later admitted that he knew his roommate was sending the emails and did ask him to stop. Doesn't matter now -- Zach Brown is no longer working there. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Officer of the Year Beats Up Police Chief!
Chicago police officer Carl Sain was recently named North Chicago's "Officer of the Year." But that honor may be in jeopardy after he allegedly pummeled and seriously injured Waukegan's police Chief Artis Yancey after finding him in his estranged wife's home. Officer Sain has been charged with felony aggravated battery following the altercation which left Chief Yancey with several broken bones in his face. 45-year-old Sain allegedly pummeled Yancey with his fists -- and possibly with his department-issued handgun -- after forcing his way into his estranged wife's home about 11:30 p.m. and discovering Yancey inside in an upstairs bedroom. Sain, named in April as North Chicago Police Officer of the Year, is in the middle of a divorce with his wife. Yancey, who was promoted to Waukegan police chief in May, is a friend of Sain's wife. Sounds like a really good friend! The kind with benefits! (Chicago Sun Times)

Remember: Vomiting On Others Is In Fact A Crime!
You may not know this but vomiting on other people is a criminal offense -- especially if you're a sheriff's deputy! In Fargo, North Dakota, Stark County sheriff's deputy Justin Krohmer was arrested with his mother after the deputy vomited on people at a Kenny Chesney concert and then refused to leave. Interesting to note that his mother, Susan, just happens to also be the wife of the Ada, Minnesota police chief. Anyway, both were jailed on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting or obstructing an officer. The arresting officer said Krohmer was asked to leave the Fargodome after vomiting on people in front of him, but he refused to do so. His mother then pushed police officers. (The Forum)

There's Not Really a Drug Section on Craig's List
Are people under the impression that our law enforcement officials somehow don't have access to Craig's List? In Quincy, Massachusetts, police arrested 30-year-old idiot Christopher Gray after he placed an ad on Craig's List to sell pot! Undercover detectives responded to the ad and met with and purchased a small bag of marijuana from Gray for $45 bucks. According to police, Gray posted the advertisement on the online classified site with the words "420 help is here. Give me a ring if you need some help." The term "420" is well known as a pot smoker's code and is believed to stem from the time of day that smokers at a California high school in 1971 would meet to smoke weed. (The Patriot Ledger)

Cell Phone Etiquette
Hey let's all remember our cell phone etiquette. You should always turn your cell phone off when you're on a plane, in the movie theater, and trying to run and hide from police. In Salem, Oregon, a 48-year-old man was being chased by police and going 70 mph when he stupidly drove right through a police blockade where officers had put down a row of tire spikes. That brought his car to an abrupt stop and our friend ran into a field of tall grass where he thought he could hide. The police called out a dog and handler to find the guy but they really didn't need to. All of the sudden the guy's cell phone started ringing and he was easily spotted and captured. (Statesman Journal)

Gasless Cows Mean a Greener Planet!
Canadian scientists are doing their part to keep the planet green by breeding cows that burp and fart less. Their efforts have resulted in cattle that release 25% less methane-- one of the main causes of global warming. They hope the technique can be extended to other gas-producing animals (like maybe your dad). Gas from 170 million cattle, sheep and pigs is responsible for a quarter of the methane released in America each year, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. (Ananova)

A 100-Year-Old Beatle?
Could we one day see a 100-year-old rock star? 67-year-old Paul McCartney says he thinks he will live to be 100. The former Beatle is confident his vegetarian lifestyle will keep him healthy and happy for at least another 33 years. A McCartney friend said, "Paul has a hunch he'll still be here to mark his 100th year. He leads a pretty healthy life with a strict vegetarian diet and he exercises regularly. He certainly sees 100 as a reachable target." Think about this -- if he makes it, he'll live long enough to see the 75th anniversary of the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band! Wow! (Originally released June 1, 1967) (AHN News)

Couldn't Find the South Side Rapist, So We'll Take the West Side Rapist!
In Los Angeles, police detectives had become frustrated at never being able to find the "South Side Rapist" -- a 1980s-era serial rapist-killer who terrorized South Los Angeles and who is still at large. So they recently started the painstaking process of collecting DNA from all unregistered sex offenders who have come through the system since that time, hoping to come up with a match. Well they never did find the South Side Rapist but they did inadvertently find a DNA match for the "Westside Rapist" from the 1970s and arrested John Floyd Thomas Jr. who is now 72. (Los Angeles Times)

THINGS THAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Thursday Stuff
• Dr. Jerri Nielsen passed away from cancer on Tuesday at the age of 57. She was the doctor stationed at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station who diagnosed herself with breast cancer and was airlifted to safety in 1999.
• The best-picture lineup at the Academy Awards is doubling from five films to 10, a move organizers said Wednesday will open the field to more worthy movies and possibly boost the TV ratings.
• Madonna is turning her Manhattan apartment into a replica of her British mansion that she used to share with Guy Ritchie.
• Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo have called it quits reports People magazine. The couple began dating in 2006.
• If you're keeping track, Prince Charles received over $5 million in government funds last year to cover his travel.
• Lady Gaga set off fireworks from her bustier during the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto on June 21.
• Kevin Federline's production company owes over $14 million in back taxes.
• In North Carolina, there's a new program that will pay girls between the ages of 12 and 18 a dollar a day not to get pregnant.
• Tennis legend Martina Navratilova is being sued for millions by her "wife" who says she was dumped by her a year ago. The scorned woman now wants a cut of her fortune.
• Paul McCartney is coming to Atlanta for a summer concert to benefit the city's historic Piedmont Park.
• Simon Cowell and British billionaire Sir Phillip Green are forming a new production company, to produce TV shows for both sides of the pond.
• Rachel Hunter is said to be devastated after her hockey player fiancee called off their wedding 7 weeks before the big date.
• Another Miley Cyrus photo is causing ripples: this one showing her suggestively straddling a chair in a dressing room.
• Ellen DeGeneres "Bigger, Longer and Wider Show" is on TBS this Saturday night at 9. This is her 3rd variety special.
• If you're going to invite Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo to your next event, separate invitations, please. They're no longer a couple, but their publicists say the two are "still friends."
• Darryll Hannah may not be landing a lot of movie rolls these days, but she can get arrested. Happened in West Virginia the other day, during a mining protest.
• Meanwhile, Megan Fox and her former fiancee Brian Austin Green appear to be back together.

PAID FOR DOING NOTHING
700 New York City public school teachers are being paid fulltime salaries for doing nothing. The teachers, all of whom are tenured and union members, have been accused of various offenses from minor, such as insubordination, to major, such as sexual misconduct, but according to their contracts, they can't be fired. But the schools don't want them in the classroom, so they send them to a special location eight hours a day where they do anything they want. And they collect their full salaries of $70,000 or more at a cost to the city of $65 million a year.

OUR NEXT WAR
Our next military engagements, including the one we're already fighting in Afghanistan, will be increasingly conducted by a new generation of robot warriors that can think for themselves. Presently, the more than 5,000 robotic soldiers deployed in Iraq are all run by humans via remote control systems, but the Pentagon is investing billions of dollars to get rid of the flesh and blood component and turn the robots loose on their own. The "tin soldiers" will be equipped with sophisticated computerized brains that will allow them to behave autonomously beyond the control of human intervention. The latest "recruit" to the robotic army is Big Dog, a four footed robot the size of a large pooch that can traverse the most difficult terrain while carrying 340 pounds of equipment and an impressive array of weapons. Shades of Terminator, can these armed weapons of mass destruction be trusted to follow orders? Sometimes not. In a recent test of a robot soldier in South Africa, the heavily armed device turned on its human comrades and unleashed a barrage of explosive shells at the rate of 550 per minute. Before anyone could turn the killing machine off, it killed nine human soldiers and wounded 14 more. (Sun)

TOP FIVE SIGNS YOU'RE WORKING WAY TOO HARD

1. Sign in your office: "Four hours of sleep is for slackers"
2. You plan your next family vacation at the office
3. You own a "T.G.I.M." t-shirt (Thank God it's Monday)
4. You gave your boss's butt a hickie
5. You consider 5am "sleeping in"

TRIVIA
• What amendment in the U.S. Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of religion, speech and the press? (The First Amendment)
• What doctor came to court dressed as Thomas Jefferson, who was also thought to favor helping the terminally ill commit suicide? (Jack Kevorkian)
• What did Elizabeth I have removed from her palaces when her hair thinned and her cheeks hollowed? (Mirrors)
• Who's letter to Ronald Reagan read: "I'm very sorry...I thank God no one died"? (John Hinckley Jr.'s)
• How many people were killed in 1979 at the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster? (Zero)
• Who distanced herself from politics by changing her last name to Davis at 22? (Patti Reagan)
• Who piloted the first airplane to suffer a passenger fatality, in 1908? (Orville Wright)
• Who was known as "Tanya" after a 1974 San Francisco bank robbery? (Patti Hearst)
• What U.S. president died 79 days after being shot? (James Garfield)
• What outfit's National Intelligence Daily has a circulation of about 200? (The Central Intelligence Agency's)
• What child name's plunge in U.S. popularity was attributed to a famous 1974 scandal? (Richard's)
• What is the preferred alcoholic beverage of the Oompa Loompas, the little people in the children's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? (Butterscotch and soda)
• What is the only edible fruit produced by plants in the orchid family? (The vanilla bean)
• How old was golfing phenom Tiger Woods when he hit his first hole in one? (6)
• How many players in the National Football League weighed more than 300 pounds in 2006? (570, in 1976 only three NFLers tipped the scales at over 300)
• What was the first song sung by American astronauts in outer space? (Happy Birthday)
• The word "sex" was mentioned once on an episode of The Brady Bunch. Which potty-mouth said it? (Cousin Oliver, in one of the show's final episodes)
• What husband and wife were the first couple to be chosen as Time magazine's Man of the Year? (Generalissimo and Madame Chiang Kia-shek of China)
• What five-letter word was the answer to the first clue in the first crossword puzzle ever published in the US? (Sales)
• What was the first musical instrument on which the Christmas carol "Silent Night" was performed? (A guitar)

ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
These two are better than a pair of Manolos! Sarah Jessica Parker's surrogate gave birth to twin girls, reps said yesterday. Parker and Matthew Broderick, who wed in 1997, conceived James Wilkie, 6, but had no luck getting pregnant again. The twins, Marion Loretta Elwell and Tabitha Hodge, were born Monday at East Ohio Regional Hospital, each weighing about 6 pounds. "The babies are doing beautifully and the entire family is over the moon," a rep for the couple said.
Surrogate Michelle Ross, 26, was also doing well.

Former model Rachel Hunter has split from her ice hockey player fiance Jarret Stoll. According to the UK's Daily Mail, Stoll called off the engagement seven weeks before they were set to marry, and he informed wedding guests via email. The Canadian hockey star, 27, reportedly failed to give a reason for the cancellation. "She is absolutely devastated," a friend of Hunter told The Sun, who first reported the split. "Everything was in place for their wedding -- she had the venue, the designer dress, the guest list. She has absolutely no idea why Jarret has done this. It sounds like it could be a classic case of cold feet. He is a fair bit younger than her." Stoll, who is 12 years Hunter's junior, proposed to her last year after they'd been dating for two years. The nuptials -- which were set to be a lavish affair with Sharon Stone and Michelle Pfeiffer among the rumored guests -- was planned for August. Hunter, 39, was previously married to Rod Stewart, 64. When she was 21, the two wed in 1990. After nine years of marriage, they legally split but didn't divorce until 2006. (US Weekly)

Eddie Cibrian and wife Brandi Glanville are ready to start moving on from their issues with adulterous country music singer LeAnn Rimes. Hopefully, this will mean this is the last we hear from these two! Brandi reveals to US Weekly that speaking with the press and labeling LeAnn a "stalker" really helped her cope with the whole situation and has forced LeAnn to back off. She says, "Speaking about LeAnn's harassment made it stop. We have a pact in our house that we do not speak of LeAnn whatsoever. She can do and say whatever she wants to draw attention to herself -- we just don't care anymore." Hey now, you don't have the authority to condone her flapping her lips more than she already has. You quit, the she quits! End of story. (Perez Hilton)

BIRTHDAYS

In 1925 Actress, June Lockhart (Lassie, Maureen-Lost In Space) (84)
In 1945 Singer/composer, Carly Simon (You're So Vain, Anticipation) (64)
In 1949 Actor/comedian, Jimmie Walker (Good Times) (60)
In 1963 Singer, George Michael [Wham!] (I Want Your Sex) (46)

ON THIS DAY
In 1630 The fork is introduced to American dining by Governor Winthrop.
In 1876 Lt. Colonel George Custer and the 7th Cavalry are wiped out by Sioux and Cheyenne Indians in the Battle of Little Big Horn in Montana.
In 1997 Oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau dies in Paris at age 87.