TUESDAY, Aug 15 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR TUESDAY, August 15, 2023
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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.)

LEMON MERINGUE PIE DAY

NATIONAL LEATHERCRAFT DAY

RELAXATION DAY
The Win Calendar website says this:
“National Relaxation Day seeks to promote stress relief by practicing relaxation. Relaxation is critical when it comes to managing stress. It can also lead to a calmer and clearer mind that can assist in concentration and positive thinking.”

August is:

Black Business Month
Family Fun Month
International Peace Month
National Back to School Month
National Catfish Month
National Crayon Collection Month
National Goat Cheese Month
National Golf Month
National Panini Month
National Peach Month
National Sandwich Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

PROFESSOR PEYTON MANNING

Former NFL and University of Tennessee star quarterback Peyton Manning is returning to his alma mater this fall, joining the College of Communication and Information as a “professor of practice” starting in the 2023 fall semester. Manning will partner with faculty, teaching several topics, which include public speaking, sports reporting, video production and performance, and leadership and communication. In a statement, Manning said he’s looking forward to working with the college’s faculty and directly with students in an effort to ensure “they are well-prepared for their future careers.”
* …as fast food workers.
* Yes, kids, since leaving football, Peyton Manning has made a second fortune through public speaking, sports reporting, video production and performance, and leadership and communication … and now you can, too! But it helps if you start off as a winning NFL quarterback.
* For a moment there I thought he was going to teach a course on the music of Taylor Swift, but that would just be stupid. Oh, wait— (see story about the college teaching a course about Taylor Swift.).
* If you want to get an A, leave a can of Bush’s Baked beans on his desk.

TAYLOR SWIFT 101

Ghent University in Belgium is introducing a college elective course analyzing singer-songwriter Taylor Swift’s lyrics. Titled “Literature: Taylor’s Version,” the course will be led by British professor Elly McCausland. (* Let me guess: she’s 15?) The educator, who calls herself a “longtime Swiftie,” says, “I’ve never had so many emails from excited students asking if they can take the course. And actually non-students as well, people who are not part of the university and who want to participate in some way.” McCausland says she will interweave Swift’s lyrics with classical literature (* Oh, brother!), delving into pieces that span as far back as the 14th century. McCausland says, “What I want to do is show students that although these texts might seem inaccessible, they can be accessible if we look at them from a slightly different angle. So, Shakespeare, in some way, is actually addressing a lot of the same questions as Taylor Swift is today, which seems crazy. But he is.”
* If you fail the course, Taylor will write a hate song about you.
* They throw in Shakespeare’s name so parents don’t automatically say “I’m not paying for this crap course!”
* Taylor Swift does not belong in the Literature department. She belongs in the Marketing department.
* Meanwhile, the math department has a course looking at how Ed Sheeran chooses the math symbols for the titles of his albums.
* The irony is, the cost of going to Ghent University and taking the course is less than a ticket to the “Eras” tour.

“THE BLIND SIDE” WAS A LIE, CLAIMS MICHAEL OHER

Retired NFL star Michael Oher, whose supposed adoption out of grinding poverty by a wealthy, white family was immortalized in the 2009 movie “The Blind Side,” has petitioned a Tennessee court with allegations that a central element of the story was a lie concocted by the family to enrich itself at his expense. The 14-page petition alleges that Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, who took Oher into their home as a high school student, never adopted him. Instead, less than three months after Oher turned 18 in 2004, the petition says, the couple tricked him into signing a document making them his conservators, which gave them legal authority to make business deals in his name. He alleges that the Tuohys then used their power as conservators to strike a deal that paid them and their two birth children millions of dollars in royalties from “The Blind Side” film that earned more than $300 million, while Oher got nothing. In the years since, the Tuohys have continued calling the 37-year-old Oher their adopted son and have used that assertion to promote their foundation as well as Leigh Anne Tuohy’s work as an author and motivational speaker. Oher says that he believed the Conservatorship would make him a member of the Tuohy family but, in fact, provided him no familial relationship with the Tuohys.
* Instead of a son, they started treating him like a pet. The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg.
* Wait – are you telling me movies don’t have to stick to the truth? I’m shocked!!!
* He should have had a lawyer to protect his, yes, his Blind Side.
* If this is supposed to make me hate Sanda Bullock, it’s not going to work.

THE BUZZ

AIRBNB HOME HAS RULES POSTED ALL OVER

There is a viral TikTok video showing an Airbnb home in Texas with signs throughout that warn guests against touching objects. The signs, which are taped to beds, cabinets, countertops, decorations, and other surfaces, warn guests against touching or moving them. Every room and every surface had a note. One of the signs on a cabinet says the hutch is “antique and fragile, please don’t touch or pull on knobs.” Another sign on a screen says “10,000 years old, don’t touch it for any reason or look at it the wrong way.” There was also:
– “Absolutely no jumping on beds!”
– “These shelves for owners use only!”
– “This was our grandmother’s table. Please be kind to it and use a place mat.”
– “Microwave automatic. Do not pull open or push close.”
– “Do not clean marble countertops or appliances with an abrasives. Please use only soap and water.”
– “For stains, ‘Incredible’ is located under sink.”
– “Do not touch the cactus pots.”
– “Do not turn lever” on a doorknob.
– “Upon departure leave all furniture and bedding in respective rooms and houses where originally found.”
* I would absolutely bring my 2-year-old to this house.
* “Antique and fragile, please don’t touch or pull on knobs …” something, something, something … Jane Fonda.
* Before leaving the Airbnb, add duplicate signs in Spanish, French, and Mandarin.
* PHONE TOPIC: Have you ever been in a friend or family member’s house with an unusual or strict rule?

U.S. NEWS

TEXAS DOORBELL WASP

A Dallas, Texas, man – Alex Gomez – was relaxing at home when a notification appeared on his phone that someone was at his front door. He looked but saw nobody standing at the door. He opened his phone to see what his doorbell camera was seeing. It was a wasp, which was sitting on his doorbell. And then… and then… it flew away.
* A stinger on the ringer!
* This just goes to prove what I always say: they’ve run out of news.
* The wasp was saying, “Do you have a minute to hear the buzz about our lord and savior, my Queen Wasp?
* So bees are learning how to do ding-dong dash now.
* Then the murder hornets attacked.

PEOPLE HAVING SEX IN DRIVERLESS TAXIS IN SAN FRANCISCO

Autonomous vehicles are becoming increasingly popular in San Francisco. And not just for getting from one place to another. People are having sex in them. Why not? There’s no driver to tell them no. The San Francisco Standard has spoken to four separate Cruise car riders who said they’ve had sex or hooked up in the driverless vehicles in San Francisco over recent months and provided ride receipts. Just don’t think you’re not being watched. The Cruise company states on its website, “We record video inside of the car for added safety and support. If something happened during your ride, we might review the recording to better understand what happened.” In addition, whatever happens inside a Cruise car is largely visible to bystanders who can easily look through the car’s large windows.
* Stay classy, San Francisco.
* The car’s automatic, but the passengers drive stick.
* Cruise needs a new slogan: “Enjoy the ride,” maybe. “Cruise takes you all the way.”
* Coming soon: $19.95 a month gets you a subscription to see the Cruise in-car videos.
* Back at the Cruise garage, you hear a lot of “We need another wet cleanup!”

TRENDINGZOOEY DESCHANEL ENGAGED TO A PROPERTY BROTHER

Zooey Deschanel announced her engagement on Instagram to one of the Property Brothers. She claims it’s Jonathan Scott, but you can never be too sure. The caption reads “Forever starts now!” under a photo of the couple, with Deschanel holding her ring up to the camera. Deschanel and Scott began dating Aug. 5, 2019. They presumably will live in a nice house with an open concept.

LUKE BRYAN CANCELS ANOTHER SHOW DUE TO VOICE PROBLEMS

Country star Luke Bryan canceled another show over the weekend. He announced his Brandon, Mississippi, show cancellation Sunday morning, hours before he was supposed to take the stage for the “Country on Tour” concert. He wrote, “Under doctor advisement after taking 6 days off to heal I attempted to sing at both shows Thursday and Saturday and it was a struggle. Every show I sing I’m setting my voice back. I will continue to do everything I can to get better. Please know how much you mean to me and how heartbreaking this is to do.”

ED SHEERAN WORKS A SHIFT AT LEGO STORE IN MALL OF AMERICA

Ed Sheeran did a little promotional stunt before his weekend show at Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium. He went over to the the Mall of America and worked at the Lego store. Sheeran wore a yellow Lego apron and an “Ed” name tag as he greeted fans and handed out Lego sets to children in a video he shared on Instagram. He then grabbed an acoustic guitar and sang his song “Lego House” in front of the store for the kids, parents and fans.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

Sept. 4, Monday – Labor Day
Sept. 11, Monday – Patriot Day
Sept. 15, Friday – National POW/MIA Recognition Day (The third Friday of September)
Sept. 23, Saturday – Fall begins (Autumn Equinox is 2:50 a.m. EDT)
Oct. 9, Monday – Columbus Day
Oct. 16, Monday – National Boss’s Day
Oct. 31, Tuesday – Halloween

BIRTHDAYS

Jennifer Lawrence (actress) … 33
Joe Jonas (singer, “The Jonas Brothers”) … 34
Natasha Henstridge (actress, “Species” movies) … 49
Ben Affleck (actor, director) … 51
Anthony Anderson (actor, “black-ish”) … 53
Debra Messing (actress, “Will and Grace”) … 55
Princess Anne (daughter of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II) … 73

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

“I don’t think there are too many people who don’t know somebody who has had a problem with infidelity. I’ve found that it bothers a surprising amount of people.”

(A) Hillary Clinton
(B) Tiger Woods
(C) Ben Affleck

ANSWER: (C) Ben Affleck

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2001 – Astronomers announced the discovery of the first solar system outside our own – two planets orbiting a star in the Big Dipper.
* And we finally knew for certain there’s someplace out there to escape to.

1877 – Thomas Edison wrote to the president of the Telegraph Company in Pittsburgh, PA to suggest that when answering the telephone, the word “Hello” would be a more appropriate greeting than “Ahoy.”
* To which the Telegraph Company president replied, “Avast me hardy, we’ll think about it! Arrr.”

1876 – The U.S. passed a law removing Indians from the Black Hills after gold was discovered there.
* “Oh, our mistake. We meant to put you on this totally worthless piece of land over HERE …”

1848 – The dental chair was patented by M. Waldo Hanchett.
* It had been bad enough getting root canals without having to stand up the whole time, too.

1635 – The first recorded US hurricane hit the Plymouth Colony.
* “Man, it BLOWS around here.”

1620 – The Mayflower set sail for the New World, freeing the Pilgrim Fathers from the tyranny and oppression of Europe and helping them start again in a land of opportunity where you could be anything you wanted to be.
* As soon as you stole a nice patch of land from the natives.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2009 – U2’s first gig in Great Britain on their “360°” tour broke the attendance record for a Wembley Stadium concert. Over 88,000 people attended the show.

2004 – Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts was being treated for throat cancer after being diagnosed with the disease in June.

2000 – David Bowie and his wife Iman welcomed their first child, Alexandria Zahra Jones, into the world. A statement reported that Bowie was involved in the delivery and even cut the umbilical cord.

1992 – Boyz II Men started a 13-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “End Of The Road,” the group’s first U.S. No.1. Taken from the Eddie Murphy film “Boomerang,” it broke the 36-year-old record held by Elvis Presley for the longest run at No.1.

1991 – Paul Simon played a free concert in New York’s Central Park before an audience of 750,000 people.

1981 – Diana Ross and Lionel Richie started a nine-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Endless Love.”

1969 – The three-day Woodstock Music and Art Fair began on Max Yasgur’s 600-acre farm in Bethel outside New York. Attended by over 400,000 people, the free event featured: Jimi Hendrix, Joe Cocker, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Santana, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, The Band, Canned Heat, Joan Baez, Santana, Melanie, Ten Years After, Sly and the Family Stone, Johnny Winter, Jerrerson Airplane, Ravi Shanker, Country Joe and the Fish, Blood Sweat and Tears, Arlo Guthrie, and Joe Cocker. During the three days there were three deaths, two births and four miscarriages. Joni Mitchell was booked to appear but had to pull out due to being booked for a TV show. She later wrote the song “Woodstock.”

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 statistics, 4 out of 10 women are doing THIS right now. What is it?
Dieting

2. A recent study shows that women who do THIS gain about 15 pounds on average more than women who don’t. What is it?
Watch cooking shows on TV

3. In a recent survey, 10% of women said that before jumping on the scale, they’ve been known to do THIS – because it makes them feel like they weigh less. What is it?
Blow dry their hair

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