FRIDAY, Apr 8 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR FRIDAY, April 8, 2022
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COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: THE FRIDAY CLUSTERFLICKS

TODAY IS …
(All days repeat annually on today’s date unless otherwise noted; days may or may not be called “National”/”International”/”World” depending on source; sources listed often have additional info. We generally do not list special days which were created by commercial companies for the purpose of marketing, or the hundreds of disease awareness listings which occur each year.)

BUDDHA DAY
The History website says this:
“On this day, Buddhists celebrate the commemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C. Actually, the Buddhist tradition that celebrates his birthday on April 8 originally placed his birth in the 11th century B.C., and it was not until the modern era that scholars determined that he was more likely born in the sixth century B.C., and possibly in May rather than April.”

DRAW A PICTURE OF A BIRD DAY
The Holiday Insights website says this:
“Draw a Picture of a Bird Day is a special day for young bird lovers who like to draw. It doesn’t matter whether you are young, or not so young. If you like to draw, then today is a day to draw pictures of a bird or two, or three, or … Ready boys and girls? Grab some crayons. Now, open up your curtains and look for some birds. Once you spot a nice one, start drawing. Make sure to autograph your picture. You never know, your work may one day become famous!”

INTERNATIONAL ROMANI DAY

NATIONAL EMPANADA DAY

TRADING CARDS FOR GROWN-UPS DAY

ZOO LOVERS DAY

April is:

Car Care Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
D.E.A.R Drop Everything and Read Month
International Guitar Month
Jazz Appreciation Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
National Card and Letter Writing Month
National Garden Month
National Greyhound Adoption Month
National Humor Month
National Poetry Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

WHAT TO WATCH – New Shows and Movies

FRIDAY, Apr 8

“All the Old Knives”
Amazon Prime Video – Movie (now in theatrical release)
Synopsis: When the CIA discovers one of its agents leaked information that cost more than 100 people their lives, veteran operative Henry Pelham (Chris Pine) is assigned to root out the mole with his former lover and colleague Celia Harrison (Thandiwe Newton).

“Metal Lords”
Netflix – New Movie
Synopsis: A likable but low-wattage story of high school outcasts who seek rebirth through aggro music (“aggravation” or “aggression”), Metal Lords ostensibly aims for Heavy but is surprisingly Lite in its take on teenage mental illness, classroom violence and bullying.

SATURDAY, Apr 9

“Louisiana Law”
Discovery – Docu-Series, previously on Animal Planet
Synopsis: A documentary series following the men and women of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries as they patrol one of the most mysterious and beautiful places on earth: the state of Louisiana.

“Would I Lie to You?”
The CW – New Series
Synopsis: A new American version of a popular British game show. Comedian Aasif Mandvi hosts, with Matt Walsh and Sabrina Jalees as team captains. Every week, two celebrity guests join each captain and compete to try and discern what is true and what is false about a series of unusual (and often embarrassing) facts and stories revealed by the opposing team.

SUNDAY, Apr 10

“Building Roots”
HGTV – New Series
Synopsis: HGTV Home Renovation Show #3,720,761. Featuring husband-and-wife team Ben Dozier and Cristi Dozier, the show follows the couple and their family as they renovate homes and live an outdoor-centric life in Colorado.

“61st Street”
AMC – New Series
Synopsis: Track star Moses Johnson is swept up into the infamously corrupt Chicago criminal justice system when a presumed drug sting goes wrong.

THE BETTY WHITE PERSONAL STUFF AUCTION

We’re not done with picking over Betty White yet. The estate of the late actress is auctioning off a lot of her personal items, including memorabilia from the show “The Golden Girls,” her wedding band from her marriage to Allen Ludden, and a gold watch from her mother. The collection of more than 1,500 items, which also includes the Hollywood icon’s awards, scripts, wardrobes, jewelry and artwork, will hit the auction block at Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills from Sept. 23 to 25. Before they go up for auction later this year, the items will be exhibited in Santiago, Chile, and Kildrae, Ireland.
* It’s Betty White’s Closet World Tour, everybody!
* Chile and Ireland. Did Betty have a weird secret life we don’t know about?
* Santiago, Chile, and Kildrae, Ireland. Great, now I have to go on the internet and try to figure out which flight is cheaper.
* 99 years and only 1,500 items? Sad.
* 1,500 items. There’s gotta be some underwear in there, ya think? Gotta be.
* If she was anything like my mother, 1200 of those items are pantsuits.

THE BUZZ

SURVEY: HALF OF AMERICANS NOT LIVING HEALTHY, DON’T CARE

A survey of 2,000 respondents from vitamin & supplement website Fullscript found that 53 percent of people don’t consider their personal lifestyle to be “healthy,” and what’s more they don’t care.
– Asked what’s holding them back from living a healthier lifestyle, the top three answer were: 1) they don’t know the best actions to take in order to be healthy (* yeah, it’s not like we hear “Eat balanced meals and exercise daily” three million times a year); 2) they feel overwhelmed with too many options; 3) the cost.
– Twenty-eight percent say they make a conscious effort to “get healthy” every day: focusing on healthy eating, regular exercise, and taking time for themselves every day.
– 50 percent would like their doctor to play a bigger role in their personal health journey.
* Which adds up to 131 percent, so they also suck at math.
* I’ve got a doctor helping me on my health journey: Dr. Pepper, got ‘im right here next to the donut.
* “Overwhelmed with too many options.” So they’re talking about McDonald’s Value Menu, right?
* If only there were some sort of messaging or alert reminding us everyday to eat healthier. Someone’s missing a big market here.
* Well, it’s not like there’s any planet-wide phenomenon or anything that’s going to affect you if you’re out of shape, so why bother?

INTERNATIONAL NEWSAUSTRALIAN PLAYGROUND OF DEATH

The city council of Berry, New South Wales in Australia, is looking into reports of injuries at a brand new multimillion-dollar playground. Dozens of people claimed they witnessed injuries at the new Bongaree Nature Play Park. The $6.5 million playground opened in late January after a planning process that took seven years. It all started when 4-year-old India Greaves injured both of her legs when she went down the slide. Her father Ben Greaves was riding tandem with his daughter down the metal tube slide when India lurched backwards, got her feet stuck in the roof of the tube and hyperextended her legs with such a force, both her tibias were injured. (* Note: the slide does not look particularly dangerous. She was probably injured due to the weight of her dad behind her!) After the accident the girl’s mother posted to a community Facebook group to ask if anyone else knew of injuries sustained at the playground. The post received hundreds of replies within days, including people who reported their children had suffered facial fractures, broken bones, burnt skin and other injuries. The Greaves presented their findings to the council and urged them to take a look at the playground’s safety. The council says they will look into it, but noted “The play equipment has been designed and certified as compliant with the relevant Australian standards.” (* “So don’t even THINK about suing us.”
(video of the playgound here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZk1e3XizC0 Honestly, this playground looks fantastic!)
* Well, we all know ‘relevant Australian standards’ for safety means no more than 50 giant huntsman spiders and five crocodiles per acre.
* Who designed it, anyway? The people behind “Squid Game”?
* In a country where virtually everything can kill you, why should a playground be any different?
* The word “playground” doesn’t quite capture what’s going on. Maybe Grim Reaper Obstacle Course?
* If the playground is too dangerous, there are plenty of other safer options for kids in Australia. The dingo petting zoo, for example.

GRENADE FOUND AMONGST THE POTATOES AT FRENCH FRY FACTORY

A bomb squad was called to a French fry factory in New Zealand after a worker on the production line found an old grenade among the potatoes. The device was apparently dug up from a farm in Matamata and delivered to the East Tāmaki Mr. Chips factory. A worker spotted the grenade among 28 tons of Ranger Russets potatoes at the start of the fry-making process on Tuesday. An investigation found it to be a training version of a Mills bomb – a common World War II hand grenade – which contained no explosives.
* Then what the hell are the New Zealand army throwing at the enemy?
* “Sorry – pineapple factory’s down the road.”
* French fries? More like French DIES.
* So the spud was a dud.
* That tater could have left a crater.
* One grenade per 28 tons of potatoes? I guess that’s supposed to make us think it’s not so bad.

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE FOUND FROM 1966

A litter-picking crew in the UK found a message in a bottle from 1966. Members of the (* and be VERY careful pronouncing this) Scunthorpe Litter Pickers group said they found the message in a bottle while cleaning up around the Humber Estuary in North Lincolnshire, England. The group members opened the bottle and found a note written by 15-year-old friends Jennifer Coleman and Janet Blankley. The letter, dated Aug. 9, 1966, asked any single boys over the age of 16 and under the age of 18 to write back. The crew was able to find Jennifer Coleman on Facebook. She moved to Australia after finishing school. She said the location where the bottle was found was only a few yards from where she and Blankley launched it. Coleman said she isn’t in touch with Blankley anymore, but she was “absolutely amazed” to learn their letter had been found. Coleman said the bottled message was unsuccessful in finding her a boyfriend, but she did eventually find love at the age of 49.
* Maybe she was unsuccessful because BOYS DON’T LIKE LITTERERS.
* If you’re gonna do the message-in-a-bottle thing, you really need to know your tide tables.
* And work on your throwing arm.
* Meanwhile, the bottle’s thinking: “I just can’t get away from this neighborhood!”
* 1966. So the litter-picking crew is due to make their next exciting discovery in, let’s see – 2078.

TRENDING

GWEN STEFANI AND BLAKE SHELTON’S PET NAMES FOR EACH OTHER

Gwen Stefani appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show on Wednesday, talking about married life with husband Blake Shelton. During a “Burning Questions” segment, Stefani revealed the nicknames she and Shelton have for each other. She said he calls her “pretty girl,” and she – along with everybody else – calls him “Blakey.”
* PHONE TOPIC: Do you and your partner have weird pet names for each other?

BEST NUDE BEACHES IN THE U.S.

Looking for a nude beach? We’ve got you covered. According to Lifehacker, here are the Best Nudist Beaches In The U.S.:
– Haulover Beach Park, Florida
– Black’s Beach, California
– Moshup Beach, Massachusetts
– Little Beach, Hawaii
– Gunnison Beach, New Jersey
– Collins Beach, Oregon

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

April 15, Friday – U.S. Tax Day
April 17, Sunday – Easter
May 8, Sunday – Mother’s Day
May 30, Monday – Memorial Day
June 14, Tuesday – Flag Day
June 19, Sunday – Father’s Day
June 21, Tuesday – Summer begins (The June solstice occurs at 5:14 A.M. EDT)

BIRTHDAYS

Sadie Calvano (actress, “Mom”) … 25
Katee Sackhoff (actress, Bo-Katan Kryze on “The Mandalorian,” “Another Life,” “Longmire,” “Battlestar Gallactica”) … 42
Patricia Arquette (actress) … 54
Robin Wright (actress, “Wonder Woman,” “Blade Runner 2049,” “House of Cards”) … 56
Julian Lennon (singer/musician, son of John) … 59
Izzy Stradlin (guitarist with Guns ‘n’ Roses) … 60
John Schneider (actor, “Smallville,” “The Dukes Of Hazzard”) … 62
Steve Howe (guitarist with Yes and Asia) … 75

BIRTHDAY QUOTE QUIZ – Ask your listeners “Who said it?” HINT: Today’s their birthday!

“I grew up in a hippie commune so I have a real hippie part of me.”

(A) Bernie Sanders
(B) Pope Francis
(C) Patricia Arquette

ANSWER: (C) Patricia Arquette

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2011 – Major construction began on the Shanghai Disney Resort, the first Disney resort in mainland China. The resort opened to the public on June 16, 2016.
* It’s Disney – Resistance Is Futile.

2002 – Ed McMahon filed a $20 million lawsuit against his insurance company, two insurance adjusters, and several environmental cleanup contractors. The suit alleged breach of contract, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress concerning a toxic mold that had spread through McMahon’s Beverly Hills home.
* “Heeeerrrrrrre’s your subpoena!”

1894 – The US Supreme Court ruled that income taxes were unconstitutional – Congress later changed the law.
* AGH! We came THIS CLOSE to getting off! THIS CLOSE!

1766 – An invention was patented which used a wicker basket lowered by a pulley – the first fire escape.
* And to make the wicker basket even safer in a fire, they soaked it in kerosene.

1513 – Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain.
* His settlement would later be overrun by American retirees.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2006 – The Rolling Stones performed for the first time in mainland China, at Shanghai’s Grand Stage Theatre. The Stones were banned from performing three songs: Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk Woman, and Rough Justice.

1998 – Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood was rescued, along with 11 other passengers, in the nick of time, from a boat when an engine caught fire. The boat was exploring the islands near Angra Dos Reis, south of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, when one of the boat’s engines caught fire. Passengers were rescued by nearby journalists, just before the boat exploded.

1994 – “Nirvana” singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain was found dead of an apparent suicide in Seattle at the age of 27.

1994 – The RIAA announced that Pink Floyd’s 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon” had become the fourth biggest-selling album in U.S. history, passing the 13 million mark in sales.

X-TREME TRIVIA CHALLENGE

Every installment of X-Treme Trivia Challenge includes three mystery factoids. Create your own “Impossible Question” contest – great for listener giveaways and phone interaction starters! Also a perfect sponsorship opportunity!

1. According to USA Today, the amount of people doing THIS has decreased 27% since 1975. What is it?
Hunting

2. THIS activity in American homes has decreased by over 80% since 1960. What is it?
Taking baths

3. According to the Wall St. Journal, 24% fewer kids do THIS than a decade ago. What is it?
Play baseball

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