TUESDAY, July 16 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR TUESDAY, July 16, 2024
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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.)

FRESH SPINACH DAY

GUINEA PIG APPRECIATION DAY

NATIONAL CHERRY DAY

NATIONAL CORN FRITTERS DAY

WORLD SNAKE DAY

July is:

Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
Air Conditioning Appreciation Month
Baked Bean Month
Cell Phone Courtesy Month
Family Reunion Month
International Blondie and Deborah Harry Month
National Blueberries Month
National Grilling Month
National Hot Dog Month
National Ice Cream Month
Melon Month

THE BUZZWHEN SOMEONE KNOCKS ON THE BATHROOM DOOR

Reddit asked, “When someone knocks on the bathroom door while you’re using it, what do you say?” Some of the responses:
– “We don’t want any.”
– “Sorry, we’re full.”
– “Come back with a warrant!”
– “I say ‘seat’s taken’ like that kid on the bus in Forrest Gump.”
– “Just a minute” but said like Mrs Doubtfire.
– “Occupado!”
– “I’m with a client!”
– “Just finishing up the paperwork.”
– “Come in at your own peril.”
– “Who disturbs my slumber?”
– “I don’t have a square to spare.”
– Someone noted: “In Japan you are supposed to knock back.”
– “I meow.”
* PHONE TOPIC: Do you have something particularly clever to say when someone knocks on the bathroom door?

WHEN DID YOU MOVE OUT OF YOUR PARENTS’ HOUSE?

A new study looked at the age adults across Europe tend to move out of their parents’ house.
– The average move-out age for Europe overall is 26 years old.
– Finland’s adults leave home the youngest, at 21. In second place are Sweden and Denmark, where the average age for both is 22.
– People in Croatia and Serbia hang around the longest, with the average adult in both countries staying at home until the age of 32.
* 32! In Croatia, the national symbol is the Mama’s Boy.
* On the bright side, start piling on the chores when your kid turns 15, and life can be pretty comfortable.
* So in Finland, they sing Happy Birthday on your 21st birthday, then it’s “Goodbye, and thanks for all the herring.”
* If I lived in Finland, long about when I turned 18 I’d start encouraging my parents to move to Croatia.
* PHONE TOPIC: Should you let your kids stay at home until they are ‘ready’ to leave, or should you kick them out?

U.S. NEWS

WOMEN ACCUSED OF STEALING BEEF FROM ARBY’S

Two women are accused of stealing thousands of dollars in roast beef from an Arby’s in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Last July, the Arby’s owner found a discrepancy in the roast beef log sheets. She later discovered two employees were slicing extra beef and hiding it in a non-working oven. Employees are allowed to take home leftover beef at the end of their shift, with permission. The women would ask to take the leftover beef, then slip in the slices they had hidden. The ladies stole an estimated $2,800 in roast beef, along with 143 drinks, 16 food items, and 49 “other” things, totaling $3,495.
* Beat THAT, Hamburglar!
* If I were the defense attorney, first I’d make Arby’s prove that it’s actually beef.
* I bet detectives grilled them for a confession.
* Arby’s can deduct the stolen amount from their hourly paychecks and have it repaid by, oh, the year 3000.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL GAME INTERRUPTED BY EMUS

A football match in Pemberton, Australia – real football, not soccer – was brought to an abrupt halt when a group of wild emus invaded the field. Six big birds invaded during the game between the Southerners and Tigers. Players and officials ran around the field attempting to chase the emus off the field, which they eventually did.
* Then the dingoes attacked.
* Get the flock outta there.
* Best halftime show ever, better than Maroon 5 at the 2019 Super Bowl.
* At U.S. games, we have streakers. Australia has emus. Which pecker would you rather see?
* The Cincinnati Bengals signed one of the birds as a punt returner.

ARTIST WINS PRIZE FOR USED WASHCLOTH

The Darling Portrait Prize is a prestigious Australian art prize for portraiture. This year’s winner was a used washcloth. Perth artist Nena Salobir used an old cloth to wipe off her mascara and lipstick after a night of partying last New Year’s Eve, leaving a vague, smeary facial impression of eyes and lips. (* Imagine the Smiley Face T-Shirt scene from Forrest Gump, only with makeup.) She thought it looked like art, titled it Self Portrait on Washcloth, and it won the Darling Portrait Prize 2024 Art Handler’s Award. The award comes with a $2000 cash prize. The cloth is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.
* Second prize went to something submitted by a sheep rancher called “Pit Stains.”
* With $2000 she can finally get some actual makeup wipes.
* I’m imagining a piece of clothing art called “Scaredy Pants.” Yick.
* I started by saying “The Darling Portrait Prize is a prestigious Australian art prize for portraiture.” Change that to “WAS a prestigious art prize.”

TRENDING

HANK AZARIA LEADS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN COVER BAND

Film, TV and voice actor Hank Azaria (The SImpsons, The Birdcage, Night at the Museum, Brockmire) said he’s now turning down acting roles to focus on his Bruce Springsteen cover band. They call themselves Hank Azaria and the EZ Street Band. Azaria tells Rolling Stone magazine that he first put the band together for a one-time performance at his 60th birthday party back in April. He says, “I think of it as a theatrical performance. I’m staying in character as Bruce even though I’m telling stories about myself. It’s a performance piece, but I’m not a Bruce impersonator.” The performance as “Bruce” went so well that he got offered two acting jobs. But he turned them both down to pursue a future with the band. Their first official gig is at Manhattan’s Le Poisson Rouge on Aug.1. The proceeds will go to his social-justice-themed charitable foundation.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

Sept. 2, Monday – Labor Day
Sept. 11, Wednesday – Patriot Day
Sept. 23, Sunday – Fall begins (Autumn Equinox is 8:44 a.m. EDT)

BIRTHDAYS

Corey Feldman (actor, “The Lost Boys”, “Stand By Me”) … 53
Will Ferrell (comic actor) … 57
Phoebe Cates (actress, “Gremlins,” “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”) … 61
Michael Flatley (Irish dancer, choreographer, “Lord of the Dance”, “Riverdance”) … 66
Stewart Copeland (drummer with the Police) … 72

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

“I think I have this everyman quality, where I could be the guy next door, or the guy you work with.”

(A) Tom Cruise
(B) Ozzy Osbourne
(C) Will Ferrell

ANSWER: (C) Will Ferrell

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2004 – Martha Stewart was sentenced to five months in prison and five months of home confinement by a federal judge for lying about a stock sale.
* What about when she lied about it being easy to host a 20-person dinner party?

1999 – John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife, Carolyn, and her sister, Lauren Bessette, died when the single-engine plane Kennedy was piloting plunged into the Atlantic Ocean near Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.
* I can’t believe there haven’t been any conspiracy theories.

1985 – The first network TV program was broadcast in stereo – the All-Star Game on NBC.
* It sounded so realistic, viewers at home ducked after every foul ball.

1979 – Saddam Hussein became President of Iraq.
* When he was in power, even his enemies celebrated this anniversary. Because they had electrodes attached to their privates.

1969 – The first Apollo mission to land on the moon was launched.
* Even by 60s standards it was the ultimate trip.

1935 – The first automatic parking meter in the U.S. was installed, in Oklahoma City, OK.
* It sure beat the manual ones that you had to stand there and crank.

1867 – A Frenchman invented reinforced concrete.
* Nobody knows who he was, but the Mafia still thank him every year.

1790 – Congress established the District of Columbia.
* Which makes it America’s oldest amusement park.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2023 – Taylor Swift’s re-recorded “Speak Now” album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, her 12th No. 1 album, surpassing Barbra Streisand’s record for #1 albums by a female artist.

2017 – Rapper DMX, real name Earl Simmons, was charged with tax fraud after allegedly hiding millions of dollars in earnings. He faced up to 44 years in prison if he was found guilty on all 14 counts. In a plea deal, he pleaded guilty to dodging $1.7 million in taxes, and was sentenced to one year in prison. He was released January 21, 2019, and ordered to pay $2.3 million in restitution to the federal government.

2009 – A stage being built in France for a concert by Madonna collapsed, killing two workers and injuring six others. Technicians had been setting up the stage at the Velodrome stadium in Marseille when the partially-built roof fell in, bringing down a crane. Madonna was performing on her Sticky and Sweet tour in Udine, Italy, when she received news of the incident and was said to be “devastated” by the news.

1995 – Rap singer and actress Queen Latifah was the victim of a car-jacking attempt that went wrong, leaving her bodyguard shot and wounded.

1986 – Dolly Parton’s amusement park, Dollywood, opened.

1981 – Harry Chapin died in an auto accident in Jericho, N.Y., while on his way to play a benefit performance.

1976 – The Allman Brothers Band split up.

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. Only 20% of men did THIS before they got married. What is it?
Asked their fiance’s parents’ permission

2. 50% of married men surveyed say THIS is the least favorite activity they do with their wife. What is it?
Watching a chick-flick

3. Statistics show a man who’s been married three or more times is more likely to do THIS. What is it?
Die early

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