WEDNESDAY, Feb 12 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR WEDNESDAY, February 12, 2025
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COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: A & M AUTOLAND – Valentine’s Day Kissing Booth

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 – including “holidays” created by the National Day Calendar and Wellcat websites to drive traffic to their websites – or the hundreds of disease awareness listings which occur each year.)

DARWIN DAY
The List of National Days website says this:
“Darwin Day is an annual celebration to commemorate the birthday of Charles Darwin, the British biologist who is best known for his contributions to the theory of evolution. It is a global celebration of science and humanity.”

NAACP DAY
The NAACP website says this:
“Founded Feb. 12. 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, campaigning for equal opportunity and conducting voter mobilization.”

(NATIONAL) LOST PENNY DAY
The Days Of The Year website says this:
“The first penny ever was designed by Benjamin Franklin and minted in 1787. The penny we’re familiar with today, however, adorned with the bust of late American president Abraham Lincoln, was first minted in 1909 and released on February 12th to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth. National Lost Penny Day is the perfect day to take a moment to recognize that despite the fact that pennies may not seem like they are worth much, they can still be found and used to help those in need to whom each and every penny counts and adds up.”

NATIONAL PLUM PUDDING DAY

PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY
Born on this day in 1809 in Hodgenville, KY.

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

THE BUZZWEIRD THINGS ABOUT YOUR PARTNER YOU LEARNED AFTER MOVING IN TOGETHER

Valentine’s Day is coming up. Maybe you’re thinking of taking things to the next level. You might want to rethink that. Reddit asked, “What’s the weirdest thing you’ve discovered about your partner only after moving in together?” Some if the responses:
– “How every single cup of coffee is left 1/4 full around the apartment.”
– “That it’s apparently totally normal to leave EVERY CUPBOARD OPEN. I love her more than life but man is it annoying.”
– “He wanted to put all the silverware just straight into a drawer without any divides between knives, forks and spoons. All in there in a mess.”
– “He drinks pickle juice either by itself or with Coke Zero.”
– “In the middle of the night I will wake up to him having both of his arms straight in the air like a damn zombie.”
– “He sleeps propped up on like 4 pillows. He pulls the covers up to his chin then puts his arms outside of the blankets. Like someone who just died in a hospital bed.”
– “She doesn’t talk in her sleep but she hums.”
– “He completely undresses before going to the bathroom.” (* Normally not a bad thing, but they were at Burger King at the time.)
– “He put on his socks FIRST when getting dressed. I looked over one morning and he looked like a dad from a sitcom with high socks on but nothing else. It made me question if I was weird for doing the opposite.”
– “Socks. All over the place.”
– “My husband chooses to put his dirty clothes on the floor RIGHT NEXT TO THE BASKET!!”
– “She was folding the laundry with her forehead.”
– “Folding clothes. There was her way of folding them, then there was my way of folding them, and after some communication we found a compromise and now we fold them her way.”
* PHONE TOPIC: What weird little thing did you discover your partner did when you moved in together?

U.S. NEWS

MAN KILLS HIS BROTHER, LEAVES BEHIND A MURDER TO-DO LIST

A South Carolina man was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of his brother. David Perry was found dead of a gunshot wound in a warehouse that employed several members of the Perry family. Charles Gordon Perry, the victim’s older brother, showed up at the warehouse while police were there, asking if his brother was having a medical emergency. Police noticed that Charles had red spots on his shoes that “looked to be blood.” Among the evidence found at the warehouse was a handwritten list of items – a “to do” list that read, “Gun; Kill Cameras; Unique Pants, Unique Shirt-longsleeve, Unique Socks, Hammer; To Do: Leave Phone, Leave iPad; Home: Burn clothes/Rag/Suit (* and shoes, dummy! And shoes!!!), Clean & Toss Casings, Gun.” (* Also, “bananas and low on milk.”) Detectives said that an employee at the warehouse identified the handwriting as Charles Perry’s. He has been charged with his brother’s murder.
* You see, the electronic notepad is just one of the many features of the iPhone. If you’re not using it, you’re really missing out on today’s helpful technology.
* There’s no shame in reminders. I’m sure James Bond had to make to-do lists when he first got his license to kill, too.
* “Hi Charles. Hey – new shirt? Looks really good on you.” “Yeah, but I’m only gonna wear it once.”
* This could be the shortest episode of “Law & Order” ever.
* The victim: David Perry. The suspect: Charles GORDON Perry. Three names for the killer. It’s a news reporting rule.
* Murder. It’s not for the faint of heart. Or the stupid.

TEXAS HUNTER USES PORTA POTTY FOR DEER BLIND

Texas Game Wardens caught a man hunting on a piece of property without the landowner’s consent. What’s more, he was hunting from a deer blind he had made from a porta potty. Game Wardens found the porta potty, spray painted with green and black paint as camouflage and a hole cut in it for a lookout. They set up a camera along the property line in hopes that the hunter would return. On the first day of deer season, the camera caught him walking into his makeshift stand. The wardens said the man admitted to hunting without permission.
* Sounds like he was caught with his pants down.
* What’s the fine for illegal hunting? He’s gonna have to cough up a lot of doe.
* Using a porta potty for hunting is better than … letting it go to waste!
* At least it’s got a built-in seat for when your legs get tired of standing.
* After a few hours in that kind of deer blind, you can drop your pants and make moose calls.

DENTIST CAUGHT WITH 107 CANISTERS OF LAUGHING GAS

A Houston dentist, clocked doing 44 in a 30 mph zone, led cops on a brief chase Saturday before stopping. He admitted to police that he had 107 canisters of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, stashed inside his car. Christopher Pedlar, 39, was charged with eluding police and possession of volatile chemicals. Dr. Pedlar said he had been using the gas while he was driving around. He admitted to police that he had a problem.
* No designated driver?
* And now he’s a laughing stock.
* “Sir, this is no laughing matter.” “Actually, officer, I beg to differ.”
* I bet his patients wondered why, when they screamed in pain, he’d just chuckle.

HOTEL FIRE CAUSED BY BATTERY SOCKS

In Burke, Vermont, a fire in a room on Saturday at the Burke Mountain Hotel was sparked by battery-operated heated socks. Fire crews from several towns responded to the fire on the fifth floor of the hotel around 7 p.m. Guests were evacuated and there were no injuries. The fire chief says a guest’s battery-operated heated socks shorted electrically, which caused the batteries to catch fire and the fire moved to the wall.
* Yes, you guessed it: they were Tesla socks.
* That’s what the Burke Mountain Hotel gets for being so stingy with the heat.
* Burning, stinky socks. That had to smell good.
* We’ve had electricity since the 1830’s. You’d think we’d have it figured out by now.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

DENMARK MOVES TO BUY CALIFORNIA

With all the bluster around the United States buying Greenland, which is actually controlled by Denmark, a Danish man has started making moves to buy California. Yes, it’s meant as a joke. Xavier Dutoit, the man behind the campaign, built a website looking for $1 trillion to buy California and turn it into a territory that spreads Danish values. According to the website: “Have you ever looked at a map and thought, ‘You know what Denmark needs? More sunshine, palm trees, and roller skates. We have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make that dream a reality. Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet? Yes, please.” Under the proposed Denmarkification plan, Disneyland would get a new name, Hans Christian Andersenland.
* Mickey Mouse in a Viking helmet? Well, heck – it worked for Elmer Fudd.
* Wait for a couple more rounds of fires, and they can buy California for a few hundred bucks.
* I looked up “Danish values.” Topping the list:
– Trust: Danes trust each other in business, government, and personal relationships. Honesty is expected, and corruption is rare.
– Equality: Denmark has some of the world’s lowest income inequality and poverty rates.
… so, sorry, but this won’t work in California. Especially Hollywood.
* I don’t know much about Denmark, but I like their sweet rolls.
* And now Norway wants to buy North Dakota because, they say, it’s warmer.

AUSTRALIAN TEACHER ACTS LIKE A CAT

A high school teacher in Logan City, Australia, is under fire for acting like a cat in class. Parents of students at Marsden State High School said the teacher wants to be called “Miss Purr,” wears cat ears, hisses, and licks her hands while teaching. One parent claimed the teacher made her child “purr” in exchange for candy. Parents have lodged complaints with the school, although it’s unclear yet if the teacher will face any action.
* First they have to get her down from the top of the telephone pole.
* I think having her spayed would eliminate 90 percent of the problems.
* Instead of apples, students leave a can of tuna on her desk.
* On the bright side, the school’s mouse problem is over.
* The kids say they can get past her behavior, but the litter box is really starting to smell.

ALMANACNOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

TODAY – Lincoln’s Birthday
February 14, Friday – Valentine’s Day
February 17, Monday – Presidents Day / Washington’s Birthday
March 4, Tuesday – Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras
March 9, Sunday – Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 17, Monday – St. Patrick’s Day
March 20, Thursday – Spring begins, Spring Equinox is 5:01 a.m. EDT

BIRTHDAYS

Christina Ricci (actress) … 45
Jesse Spencer (actor, “Chicago Fire”, “House”) … 46
Josh Brolin (actor) … 57
Chynna Phillips (singer/songwriter, ex Wilson Phillips)… 57
Arsenio Hall (comedian, game show and talk show host) … 69
Michael McDonald (singer with the Doobie Brothers, solo act) … 73
Steve Hackett (guitarist, formerly with Genesis) … 75

Today’s Birthdays grade: It’s hard not to spotlight Josh Brolin, whose had an amazing couple of years lately, starring in Avengers movies, Deadpool movies, Dune movies, and Outer Range. And it all started 40 years ago with “The Goonies.” Grade: B-plus.

[Want to try something different with the daily birthdays? Try grading them! Some days have “good” celebs, some have “great” celebs, some have “lousy” celebs. For fun, give the group an arbitrary grade: A-plus through F-minus. Sidekick will give you our take on it; you can to take the concept and run with it.]

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

“I got picked on a lot. I was a complete geek in school. I had braces. I didn’t have the hot girlfriend. I wasn’t ever sought after. I was a stocky, awkward kid who got laughed off the tennis court when I tried that.”

(A) Chris Hemsworth
(B) Hugh Jackman
(C) Josh Brolin

ANSWER: (C) Josh Brolin

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2021 – Yoshiro Mori, head of the Tokyo Olympics, resigned after commenting that talkative women made meetings “drag on too long.”
* Just couldn’t keep your mouth shut, eh pal?

2019 – The U.S. national debt topped 22 trillion for the first time according to the U.S. Treasury.
* But who’s counting?

2017 – North Korea conducted a solid fuel ballistic missile test from Banghyon air base.
* And South Korea tried not to go ballistic.

2004 – Mattel announced that “Barbie” and “Ken” were breaking up. The dolls had met on the set of their first television commercial together in 1961.
* One of the longest celebrity relationships of all time.

2002 – Former Enron chairman Kenneth Lay expressed “profound sadness” about the collapse of the energy giant, but refused to testify at a Senate hearing.
* Unfortunately, he died before he could get to experience 15 to 20 years of “profound sadness.”

1961 – Explorer Dr. Albert Crary became the first person to stand on both ends of the earth. He reached the South Pole today in 1961, after reaching the North Pole in 1952.
* All that effort and they ended up looking pretty much the same, really.

1955 – President Eisenhower sent the first U.S. advisors to South Vietnam.
* As it turned out, they should have advised them to just give up.

1908 – The first around-the-world automobile race began in New York.
* When they got to California that pesky Pacific Ocean was going to be a little bit of a problem.

1887 – Inventor Alexander Graham Bell publicly demonstrated his telephone. Reaction was ho-hum.
* Well, DUH! Who was anybody going to call? Nobody had phones!

1851 – Australia had its own gold rush. It started on this date when Edward Hargreaves discovered gold at Summerhill Creek in New South Wales.
* “Thar’s gold down under Down Under!”

1879 – The first artificial ice rink opened, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
* The hardest thing about making artificial ice was coming up with the artificial water.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2017 – Adele was the biggest winner at The 59th Annual Grammy Awards with five trophies, including Album of the Year for 25, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year for “Hello.” Adele also became the first artist in history to win all three general field awards in the same ceremony twice, previously winning all three categories in 2012.

2010 – The remake of the song “We Are The World” was premiered at the opening of the Winter Olympics.

2009 – A full frontal nude photo of Madonna, taken in 1979 before she became famous, sold at auction for $37,500. The black and white picture was taken at a time when Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone was a 20-year-old dancer trying to make ends meet in New York.

2007 – During a press conference at West Hollywood’s Whisky a Go Go club, Sting confirmed that The Police were getting back together. The band was set to kick off a world tour on May 28.

2004 – Eminem’s ex-wife Kimberly Mathers was jailed for a month after being found using cocaine while on probation. Mathers was also put on a 90-day drug abuse program.

2001 – A federal appeals court ruled the Internet service Napster had to prevent users from swapping copyrighted music without charge.

1997 – David Bowie received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

1977 – The Police recorded their first single, “Fall Out.”

1968 – Guitarist extraordinary Jimi Hendrix returned home to Seattle where he received a key to the city.

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. Typically, the younger you are, the more you do THIS. What is it?
Smile

2. The older you are, the less you do THIS. What is it?
Cry

3. Generally speaking, the older you get, the less you want THIS. What is it?
A birthday party

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