THURSDAY, Feb 8 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR THURSDAY, February 8, 2024
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COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: VALENTINE’S DAY – THE CHOCOLATIZER; BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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.)

BOY SCOUT ANNIVERSARY DAY – Incorporated in 1910.

LAUGH AND GET RICH DAY
The Time And Date website says this:
“While being happy won’t make you laugh all the way to the bank, it will certainly help improve your mood and your health. Studies have shown that people who are happy and laugh often tend to have less stress, lower blood pressure and a better immune response. Laughing and sharing jokes can also have social benefits. Happy people tend to have more friends and are easily accepted by social groups. Being happy can also help a person professionally. Joyful workers are more productive and liked by their co-workers compared to cranky and unhappy professionals.”

MOLASSES BAR DAY

OPERA DAY

February is:

Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
African American History Month
Celebration of Chocolate Month
International Boost Self Esteem Month
International Friendship Month
National Bird Feeding Month
National Snack Food Month
National Sweet Potato Month
Spunky Old Broads Month
Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

WHAT TO WATCH – New and Returning Shows and Movies
Premiering Thursday through Sunday
Listings sourced from the TV Guide and EW websites

THURSDAY, Feb 8

“Couple to Throuple”
Peacock – New Sex Hookup Reality Show
Synopsis: On a remote tropical island, four couples date a group of singles, many of whom have experienced polyamorous relationships. Each couple has until the end of their stay to decide if they would like to commit to their new threesome (throuple), go home with each other, or leave separately.

“One Day”
Netflix – New Series
Synopsis: Romantic drama follows the growing relationship between Dexter and Emma on one day of the year over a series of many years from the late ’80s to the early ’00s.

“They Called Him Mostly Harmless”
Max – New Documentary
Synopsis: Collier County’s Sheriff knows this isn’t like other Doe cases — an emaciated victim found dead in a tent, surrounded by food and cash, but no ID.

Season Premieres:
Max – “Tokyo Vice”
MTV – “Jersey Shore Family Vacation”
Paramount+ – “Halo”

FRIDAY, Feb 9

“Lover, Stalker, Killer”
Netflix – New Documentary
Synopsis: A mechanic tries online dating for the first time and meets a woman who takes romantic obsession to a deadly extreme.

“Suncoast”
Hulu – New Movie
Synopsis: A teen living with her strong-willed mother must take her brother to a specialized facility. She strikes up an unlikely friendship with an eccentric activist at protests surrounding a landmark medical case.

“The Silent Service – The Battle of Tokyo Bay”
Prime Video – New Series
Synopsis: The captain of a Cold War-era nuclear submarine declares his vessel an independent nation – and then battles the navies of both the U.S. and the USSR while heading to a United Nations summit.

“Upgraded”
Prime Video – New Movie
Synopsis: When Ana is upgraded to first class on a work trip, she meets handsome Will, who mistakes her for her boss. The white lie that sets off a glamorous chain of events, romance, and opportunity, until her fib threatens to surface.

SUNDAY, Feb 11

“Stupid Pet Tricks”
TBS – New Series
Synopsis: Sarah Silverman hosts this comedy variety show filled with big laughs, extraordinary animals, and of course the most stupid pet tricks out there.

“Puppy Bowl XX”
Animal Planet/Max/Discovery+ – Special Program

“Super Bowl LVIII”
CBS – Special Program

“Tracker”
CBS – New Series
Synopsis: A lone-wolf survivalist roams the country as a reward seeker, using his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement solve all manner of mysteries while contending with his own fractured family.

THE BUZZ

DUMB HEADLINES

Time for another episode of Three Dumb Headlines. These are actual, word-for-word headlines of stories found on the internet. There’s no story, no context, just the actual headline. Discuss them amongst yourselves. Then, encourage listeners to vote for the Dumbest Headline on your station’s social media page. Maybe ask them to leave a comment. Reveal the results in the next break.
Today’s Dumb Headlines:
1. “6-Million-Year-Old Ape’s Ear Reveals Secret to Human Walking”
2. “Why Blueberries Are Blue”
3. “The Human Body Wasn’t Built To Wash Clothes, According To Science”
And here’s a spare, in case you don’t like one of those three: “Jared Leto Ate An Energy Bar In Front Of A Michelin-Starred Chef Instead Of The Meal They Prepared”

TIKTOKERS TRYING TOO HARD WITH THE SLANG

Someone on Vox.com has noticed that people on TikTok like to invent what they think is a new cool slang expression, and then work really hard trying to get it to go viral. Here are some of the slang expressions TikTokkers are pushing:
– “orange peel theory”
– “microcheating”
– “girl hobby”
– “loud budgeting”
– “75 cozy.”
– “a dinner and couch friend”
– “polywork”
– “almond mom”
– “weekend effect”
– “first time cool syndrome”
– “goblin mode”
– “work island”
– “Generation Zyn”
– “Stanley moms and Sephora tweens”
– “Earnestcore and resolutionsmaxxing”
– “girl dinner”
– “beige flag”
* That’s the thing about slang. One day it’s bussin, the next day it’s cheugy.
* PHONE TOPIC: Is your kid using any weird slang that you don’t understand?

SCIENCE: MOTHS ARE NOT ACTUALLY ATTRACTED TO LIGHT

A shocking new study has discovered something unimaginable: Moths are not actually drawn to light. According to a study published in the January 30 journal Nature Communications, the moths are just confused. By using motion-capture cameras, researchers found that when the moths flew around a light source, they were tilting their backs toward the light and keeping their bodies in that direction – with their backs toward the light. When artificial light does not interfere, nocturnal insects keep their backs pointed toward whatever direction is brightest, which is typically the sky versus the ground. This trick has evolved over eons of evolution, helping them know which way is up and keeping them level during their night flights. However, when the insects pass by an artificial light source, they become disoriented because the light is from all around them, not just in the sky.
* It’s like your dad driving at night.
* Anybody want to bother sending these geniuses video of a completely empty sky, with every moth within 3 miles circling around a lone streetlight? Me neither.
* We had electric lights for, what, 140 years now? The moths have had plenty of time to evolve past this.
* Also according to these researchers: When you open a can of cat food and your cat comes running to the sound of the can opener, it’s not hungry. It’s checking to make sure you dispose of the can properly.

U.S. NEWS

RADIO STATION TOWER STOLEN

Somebody stole a 200-foot tall radio antenna tower belonging to radio station WJLX – “The Sound Of Walker County” – in Jasper, Alabama. It was a typical, heavy steel red-and-white tower. The station used it for their AM radio channel. Station general manager Brett Elmore said, “I have been in the radio business, around it all my life, and I can say I have never heard of anything like this.” Elmore learned of the theft on Friday when a landscaping crew went to the rural tower site to maintain the property, but there wasn’t much left to maintain. The crew called and told him the tower was gone. “There is wires everywhere, and it is gone.” Elmore said the radio station will work to rebuild the tower. If caught, the suspects face a fine or up to 10 years in prison.
* Is it too embarrassing to note that nobody called and asked, “What happened to your station?”
* Now “The Sound Of Walker County” is a very quiet hissy static-y kind of sound.
* Until they build a new one, the station’s is going to play “Our Lips Are Sealed” by the Go-Go’s on continuous loop.
* They’re gonna have to point the studio monitor out the window and crank it real loud.
* Have they checked any, I don’t know, bungee jump operations in the area?
* Their new tower? They should stick an Apple AirTag on it.

BAGS OF ICE STOLEN

On Sunday, 27 bags of ice were reported stolen from a Family Dollar store in Wilkesville, Ohio. A pickup truck with the ice was spotted at a gas station in Wellston, 13 miles from the store. Police and deputies went to the gas station, where two people, Justin Hopkins, 33, and Vicki Bauer, 44, were arrested and charged with theft. The 27 bags of ice were returned to the Family Dollar.
* They’ll be spending time in the cooler, you bet.
* Shortest cold case ever.
* It’s February in Ohio. Is ice really that hard to find?
* 27 bags of convenience store ice from the Dollar Store. Let’s do the math on that… uh, 27 bags, at, let’s see, a dollar, makes it… um… where’s my calculator?
* Somewhere in an Ohio motel is a guy waking up in an ice-less bathtub without a kidney.

COMPANY WILL RECYCLE YOUR EX’S LOVE LETTERS INTO TOILET PAPER

This “Valentine’s Day / Hate your ex” thing is spiraling out of control. A recycled toilet paper company says they will take your old love letters from your ex and turn them into recycled bathroom tissue for Valentine’s Day. The company, called Who Gives A Crap, calls their new program “Flush Your Ex.” The company says, “Mail us those leftover love letters taking up psychic space in your sock drawer and we’ll deliver them to out production facilities, where we magically transform their BS into TP. Because nothing says closure like knowing that someone, somewhere is putting those sweet nothings exactly where they belong.” The company operates in the U.S., the UK and Australia.
* Turn those “miss you’s” into tissues.
* How much to put your ex’s face on each toilet paper square?
* I can see a lot of people doing this. Three, maybe even four.
* Those cards you sent / with love, I got ’em / They’ll now be used / On someone’s bottom. / Burma Shave.
* This story has been brought to you by the Institute of Oh, Real Mature.

AUDIO: NEBRASKA GIVES UP ON STATE SLOGAN

The Nebraska state tourism director announced on Monday that it was scrapping its 5-year-old tagline: “Nebraska, honestly it’s not for everyone.” John Ricks, director of the Nebraska Tourism Commission, said the motto was successful in increasing interest in visiting the state. He said that when he was hired 7 years ago, Nebraska ranked last among states that tourists were interested in visiting, and a reputation as flat, boring and a long way across. ‘Cause, y’know, it is. Ricks said, “The only way we could get their attention, honestly, was by agreeing with them, and then counteracting it.” They came up with “Nebraska, honestly it’s not for everyone.” Since then, a survey of tourists showed interest in the state rising from 19% in 2019 to 39% more recently.
* They would have been better off using the money to build a mountain or a canyon or something.
* Imagine Nebraskans learning that people were less interested in their state than North Dakota. That’s gotta hurt.
* “Nebraska: Everybody who comes here gets a free step stool, to see over the corn.”
* They say the best place to be in Nebraska is right in the center of it. That way, no matter which direction you go, you’re leaving it.
* The slogan “Honestly, it’s not for everyone” will now be repurposed for the 2024 elections.
CLIP: Why doesn’t Nebraska advertise like Delaware? Our “Delaware Tourism Council” parody.
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)(com)/prep/wp-content/uploads/05-14-DelawareTouristCouncil(dot)mp3

PETA NOW COMING AFTER CAROUSEL HORSES

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is now coming after merry-go-rounds. The animal rights group announced it wants carousels to no longer have horses or other animals. PETA is directing its concerns to a Wichita, Kansas, company called Chance Rides, known for its beautiful carousels. PETA sent a letter to the company’s president asking him to end the production and sale of “animal-themed carousels that normalize the use of animals as conveyances and amusements.” The group suggests replacing animals with vehicles, such as cars, airplanes, spaceships and bulldozers, or designs like rainbows, shooting stars, and brooms.
* Brooms? Great, now we’re gonna hear from the witches.
* “Normalize the use of animals as conveyances.” Wasn’t riding horses normalized around 3,000 B.C.?
* Excellent use of time and resources, PETA!
* Bet the carousel company says, “Look, we’ve been going ’round in circles about this.”
* Watch out, kids. Next, they’re coming after your teddy bears.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

PILOT ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOYS EMERGENCY SLIDE BEFORE TAKEOFF

A British Airways pilot accidentally activated the plane’s emergency slide just seconds before take-off. It happened on Saturday morning at Heathrow airport on a flight headed to Romania. Preparing for take-off, the pilot allegedly had failed to disarm the plane door, and hit the button when he was passing documents to members of the crew. The flight was delayed for three hours. The cost to the airline was £50,000. The captain was immediately taken off flying duties.
* Now he’s sliding right into a performance review.
* Don’t tell me: the documents he was handing off was the pre-flight checklist?
* He should have said, “OK, we’re off for Romania. Last chance to bail, folks.”
* In his defense, I’m sure there are a lot of buttons up there in the cockpit. Who can remember them all?
* Oh well, it beats a cabin door blowing out during the flight.

TRENDING

RINGO GOING COUNTRY

Ringo Starr, 83 year-old ex-Beatles drummer and non-stop touring monster, has shared some very exciting news – he’s back in the studio working on new music. (* Or so they tell him!) This time, it’s a country album. Starr said in a video that he was “gonna do a country EP, but as things are unfolding, it’s probably going to be like a real CD—ten tracks.” The beloved drummer last released a full-length album of original material in 2019. Since then, he’s released four EPs, as well as a number of singles, live collections, and more.

THE CARS MOST LIKELY TO LAST 200,000 MILES

According to Consumer Reports, here are the 2024 Cars Most Likely To Last 200,000 Miles Or More:
1. Honda Civic
2. Toyota Highlander
3. Toyota 4Runner
4. Ford F-150
5. Honda Odyssey
6. Toyota Corolla
7. Toyota Tundra
8. Toyota Tacoma
9. Honda CR-V
10. Honda Accord
11. Toyota Prius
12. Toyota Camry

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

February 10, Saturday – Chinese New Year (The Year of the Dragon)
February 12, Monday – Lincoln’s Birthday
February 14, Wednesday – Valentine’s Day
February 19, Monday – Presidents Day / Washington’s Birthday
February 13, Tuesday – Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras
March 10, Sunday – Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 17, Sunday – St. Patrick’s Day
March 19, Tuesday – Spring begins, Spring Equinox is 11:06 p.m. EDT
March 20, Wednesday – First full day of Spring

BIRTHDAYS

Seth Green (actor, played Dr. Evil’s son in “Austin Powers” movies) … 50
Vince Neil (singer with Motley Crue) … 63
John Grisham (author) … 69
Mary Steenburgen (actress, “Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist,” “The Last Man on Earth”) … 71
Robert Klein (comedian) … 82
Nick Nolte (actor) … 83
Ted Koppell (TV journalist, former “Nightline” host) … 84
John Williams (film score composer, “Star Wars”) … 92

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

“I’ve always said that I had substance problems … but it’s something you deal with and you do deal with it, take care of it, and you can keep it under control, but every once in a while, you lose control.”

(A) Charlie Sheen
(B) Mel Gibson
(C) Nick Nolte

ANSWER: (C) Nick Nolte

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2007 – Model and tabloid sensation Anna Nicole Smith died at age 39 of an accidental drug overdose.
* Thereby ushering in the Charlie Sheen / Lindsay Lohan Era.

2000 – Computer hackers shut down the eBay, Amazon and CNN websites.
* If only they had done it a few weeks earlier before Christmas – then I wouldn’t have spent 20 bucks on eBay for that stupid James Dean coffee mug for my stupid brother-in-law.

1994 – Jack Nicholson used a golf club to attack a car.
* The car won.

1969 – A meteorite weighing over a ton fell in Chihuahua, Mexico, nearly hitting a house.
* Instead, the house now has a one-ton lawn ornament.

1928 – The first transatlantic TV image was received in Hartsdale, NY.
* From this humble beginning, Americans would one day be able to see topless game shows from Europe.

1924 – The gas chamber was used for the first time in America.
* Insert your own “bean burrito” joke here.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2013 – LA Superior Court Judge Charles Palmer threw out a claim by Axl Rose of fraud and misrepresentation against Guitar Hero III. Rose claimed that his deal with the company to license the song “Welcome to the Jungle” for use in the game included a promise from Activision that no images of Slash would be used in the game. Later, both Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani’s band No Doubt sued the company over their own portrayals in Band Hero, a Guitar Hero series spin-off.

2010 – Michael Jackson’s personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in the death of the pop superstar in Los Angeles Superior Court. (Murray was convicted and sentenced to four years in jail.)

2005 – Keith Knudson, drummer with The Doobie Brothers, died of pneumonia at the age of 56.

1992 – UK act Right Said Fred started a three-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “I’m Too Sexy.”

1990 – U.S. singer Del Shannon died of self inflicted gunshot wounds. (1961 U.S. No.1 single “Runaway” plus 9 other U.S. Top 40 singles.)

1981 – R.E.M. made their first ever-recording sessions at Bombay Studios Smyrna, Georgia. Tracks included “Gardening At Night,” “Radio Free Europe” and “(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville.”

1980 – The divorce between David and Angie Bowie became final. He won custody of their son Zowie, now known as Joe. Angie received a $51,000 settlement.

1975 – Bob Dylan went to No.1 on the U.S. album chart with “Blood On The Tracks.”

1975 – The Ohio Players went to No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Fire,” the group’s first of two U.S. No.1’s.

1973 – Max Yasgur, the owner of the Woodstock farm where the 1969 festival was held, died of a heart attack at the age of 53.

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. Surveys show 60% of women and 40% of men say they do THIS in a public restroom. What is it?
They flush with their foot

2. According to a survey, 40% of men and 27% of women do THIS when they’re naked. What is it?
Talk on the phone

3. On average, women spend $864 a year on THIS, while men only spend $372. What is it?
Their hair

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