THURSDAY, Aug 14 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR THURSDAY, August 14, 2025

COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: PROMOS-TO-GO

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. We present only those specially designated days we feel your listeners would find most interesting or significant.)

INTERNATIONAL ROSÉ WINE DAY

NATIONAL CREAMSICLE DAY

NATIONAL FINANCIAL AWARENESS DAY
Established to develop and instill good financial practices that will solidify a person’s current financial status and serve them through retirement. August 14th was chosen to align with the fiscal year-end for many businesses, a time when financial reviews and audits are common.

NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY DAY
The Social Security Act was signed into law by President Roosevelt on August 14, 1935.

NATIONAL V-J DAY (Victory over Japan Day)
The National Day Calendar website says this:
“On this day in 1945, news broke around the world the Imperial Government of Japan would surrender ending a long a grueling world war. In the United States, President Harry S. Truman announced it in a press conference at the White House later that day. The peace treaty was officially signed on September 2, 1945. A year later on August 2nd, Truman signed a proclamation declaring August 14, 1946, as Victory Day.”

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

WHAT TO WATCH – New and Returning Shows and Movies
Premiering Thursday through Sunday
Listings compiled from multiple sources

THURSDAY, Aug 14

“In the Mud”
Netflix – New Series from Argentina
Synopsis: Prison drama about five female inmates who forge a bond after a deadly accident, with their survival threatened by corruption and power struggles within the prison.

“Marcial Maciel: The Wolf of God”
HBO Max – New Docuseries
Synopsis: In the 1940s, Mexican seminary student Marcial Maciel leveraged his connections to form a congregation to recruit young boys for the priesthood. Weaponizing his charisma and good looks, Maciel secured large donations, which he used to establish his fledgling organization the Legionaries of Christ – which soon became embroiled in controversy.

“The Kingdom”
Disney+/ESPN+ – New Docuseries
Synopsis: Dives into the history and legacy of the Kansas City Chiefs, from the early days in Texas all the way to their third-straight Super Bowl appearance.

Returning:
Netflix – “Miss Governor”

FRIDAY, Aug 15

“Abandoned: The Woman in the Decaying House
Amazon – Special
Synopsis: Delves into the case that brought Brazil to a standstill in July 2022 – a peculiar lady who lives in a decaying mansion in a privileged neighborhood of São Paulo was accused, along with her ex-husband, of assaulting and keeping a domestic worker illegally in the United States for almost 20 years.

“Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical”
Apple TV+ – Animated Special
Synopsis: A musical special about the joy and magic of summer camp and the importance of preserving what you love.

“The Echoes of Survivors: Inside Korea’s Tragedies”
Netflix – New Docuseries from Korea
Synopsis: Reveals the harrowing tales of those who survived Korea’s gloomiest chapters, shedding a light on long-hidden truths.

Season Premieres:
Hulu/Disney+ – “Limitless with Chris Hemsworth”
Netflix – “Fatal Seduction”
Prime Video – “Betty La Fea: The Story Continues”

SATURDAY, Aug 16

“The Mother Flip”
A&E – Yet Another Home Rennovation Show
Synopsis: Best friends and neighbors Kristy Etheredge and Rebecca Franchione transform homes in Texas’ Hill Country into sought after properties to turn a profit.

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. “The Polite Way To Spit Out Steak Gristle When Eating At A Restaurant”
2. “Your Calf Size Can Predict How Long You Will Live”
3. “12 Mistakes People Make With Bananas”
And here’s a spare, in case you don’t like one of those three: “12 Of The Unhealthiest Instant Oatmeals”

BEST PUBLIC RESTROOMS OF 2025: THE NOMINEES

The finalists for the 2025 America’s Best Restroom contest have officially been announced! Nine public restrooms were selected from across the U.S. for their exceptional cleanliness, design, and innovation. You can vote for your favorite at the “bestrestroom” website. Hurry, the lid on voting closes this Friday, August 15.
1. The restroom and shower building at Bear Head Lake State Park in Minnesota features exterior dishwashing sinks for campers.
2. In Fruita, Colorado, a self-cleaning public restroom that combines technology, sustainability and practicality. It sanitizes the toilet and floor after each use. It’s built from durable, vandal-resistant materials like fiber-reinforced concrete and galvanized steel, and coated with anti-graffiti protection.
3. You won’t sit all broken-hearted at The Footprints restroom in Lawrence, Kansas – a barn-themed restroom that reflects the area’s rich agricultural heritage. The space features custom ceramic tile work depicting farm animals, corncobs and a flour sack.
4. Little America Hotel, Salt Lake City, Utah. Wrapped in imported Italian marble and featuring floor-to-ceiling stall doors with crystal chandeliers, it combines elegance with unmatched privacy. Just beyond the stalls, a plush sitting room — that’s plush “SITTING” room — offers softly lit vanities, French Richelieu furnishings and English wool carpet. The blush-pink palette ties the entire space together, creating a serene, refined atmosphere… for you to pee in.
5. The Moderne Bar in Orlando, featuring striking black-and-white tiling, gleaming gold accents, and elegant marble countertops. These the restrooms have become the “go-to” photo spot for guests looking to capture that perfect glam shot, whether they are relieving themselves or just snorting a quick toot of coke.
6. The Rooftop at Pier 17 in New York City features stunning panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline. The space includes 75 stalls (* with a guaranteed 6 of them functional on any given day). Natural light pours in from oversized windows, enhancing the airy, open feel of the restroom. The next time you’re in New York, be the pee-er at the Pier!
7. The new restroom at Tecolote Shores in San Diego, California, features eight all-gender restrooms, slip-resistant epoxy flooring, an exterior shower, three drinking fountains, a bottle filler, and four sinks. Topped off with a modern butterfly roof.
8. The restroom at Rosebrook Lodge at the top of Bretton Woods Ski Area’s Skyway Gondola in Vermont. The entrance welcomes guests with warm wood tones that mirror the lodge’s natural alpine surroundings. Inside, modern finishes like sleek stone flooring, geometric wall tiles and touchless fixtures combine with subtle design accents to create a clean, calming environment. Best of all: Full-length stall doors – no peeking!
9. Tatsu, the restaurant in Dallas, Texas, presents Tatsu, the bathroom: crystal-clear mirrors, polished fixtures, and a fresh, clean scent that creates an inviting and comforting atmosphere for guests. (* loud sniff inhale) Ahhh… citrus – and farts. The restroom features walls adorned with images of vivid Koi fish. Also, Toto toilets, the best!

U.S. NEWS

WOMAN ARRESTED FOR SHOOTING HER CELL PHONE

An Orem, Utah, woman was arrested over the weekend after she tried to shoot her cellphone. The investigation began when a local resident called police to report a bullet hole in his fence. He had heard a gunshot and a man and woman arguing in a neighboring backyard. When officers questioned the neighbor, he said his girlfriend on that night “was drunk and was angry about her phone.” They got into an argument, she grabbed the man’s revolver from under his bed and went upstairs yelling that she was going to shoot her phone. She went outside and tried, but missed. When officers questioned the 53-year-old girlfriend, she claimed the shooting was an accident, but would not elaborate on the circumstance. She was arrested for illegal discharge of a firearm.
* Yeah, I hate those software updates, too.
* One too many spam calls, maybe?
* I guess clicking “block this number” was too hard?
* Folks, if you hate your cellphone, don’t shoot it. It voids the warranty and you won’t get a new one. Electrocute the phone instead, so it looks like a short circuit.

TEENS STEAL TRAIN, WRECK IT

In Laurens, South Carolina, two juveniles have been detained for stealing a train and derailing it. Around 5 p.m. last Saturday, the two teens unlawfully entered both the Carolina Piedmont Railroad and CSX Transportation Railroad facilities, started an engine that was connected to two other engines, and then drove all three around the yard before taking them onto the rail line that connects toward Greenville. While attempting to return the engines to the yard, the juveniles collided with parked railcars, causing a derailment of the engine and significant damage to one of the cars.
* They were detained, but first they were de-trained.
* Well, they win the “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” essay contest when they get back to school.
* It was “Crazy Train,” a salute to Ozzy Osbourne!
* They were just doing what the Bible says: Train up a child.
* This is where growing up on “Thomas the Tank Engine” will lead you.
* You leave the ignition keys in your railroad engine, you deserve what happens.

THIEVES SNEAK THROUGH SEWER, STEAL NIKES

Police in Memphis, Tennessee, are searching for nine people who stole $3,700 of Nikes from a semi-truck. Video surveillance shows nine suspects entering the gated and fenced-in parking lot through the sewer on July 30. They broke into two trailers and stole 18 cases of Nike shoes valued at $3,700.
[note: Someone’s not doing the math right here. If it was 18 BOXES of shoes, that’s $205 a pair of Nikes, which sounds about right. But how many boxes of shoes are in a CASE of sneakers? 18 cases of Nikes must be ten times that amount. We think somebody mixed up the words CASES and BOXES. Stupid AI!]
* All in all, pretty sneaky.
* So each of the 9 thieves got $411 worth of Nike sneakers, which is, what, one left shoe?
* They needed the sneakers to replace the ones they ruined in the sewer stealing the sneakers.
* Well, like they always say at Nike when there’s a theft: tell the kids in Indonesia they’ll have to work late again.

WOMAN FINDS $27,000 RAW DIAMOND AT CRATER OF DIAMONDS PARK

A woman searching at Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas found – big surprise – a 2.30-carat diamond she plans to turn into her engagement ring. (* It looks to be about as big as a pea). The diamond is estimated to be worth around $27,000. Micherre Fox, a 31-year-old native of New York City, spent three weeks searching the park’s 37.5-acre diamond field, after spending two years researching where to look. Her partner even agreed to postpone their engagement until Fox unearthed her own diamond. She said, “There’s something symbolic about being able to solve problems with money, but sometimes money runs out in a marriage. You need to be willing and able to solve those problems with hard work.” Crater of Diamonds has volcanic origins, and gives visitors a rare chance to hunt for gems. Since the first diamond was found there in 1906, more than 75,000 have been unearthed.
* “Now, as a married couple, we can afford eggs,” she said.
* Thanks for all the help, husband-to-be.
* He said he’d put off the engagement even longer if she’d stay and keep looking for more so they can buy a house, maybe with a pool.
* How many visitors NEVER find a diamond? Maybe it should be called “Crater of the Occasional Diamond State Park.”
* So – the two years of research that told her where to look … Did she post it on Instagram? Is it for sale? What’s her phone number?
* She’s not that smart. She had to brag, and now the IRS knows about it.

AUDIO: WOMAN FRAMES LATE HUSBAND’S TATTOO

When Angelica Radevski lost her spouse unexpectedly earlier this year, the West Virginia nurse and mother preserved and framed a piece of his tattooed skin. Angelica, 35, and her husband TJ had been lifelong friends before marrying in 2021 and raising their 10-year-old son, Preston. In March, after TJ died suddenly at age 55, Angelica didn’t want a traditional keepsake. Instead, she wanted to frame her husband’s skin to show off her son’s favorite tattoo. She says they had talked about it before. Of the more than 70 tatts TJ had inked over his body, they chose to preserve his Pittsburgh Steelers helmet design — complete with skull imagery and finished off in his beloved team’s black and gold colors. It was his first sleeve tattoo, and a favorite of his and their son’s. After the funeral, Angelica used a marker to outline the exact tattoo they wanted to preserve on TJ’s right arm. A mortician then carefully removed the skin, placed it in a special preservation kit provided by the Ohio-based company Save My Ink Forever, and sent it off before TJ’s body was cremated. The preservation process took around 90 days. The company returned the framed tattoo, encased in glass and set in a dark wooden frame.
* No one’s ever heard of a camera in this family?
* You think this is creepy? The son wanted to keep dad’s brain and hook it up to their Alexa smart speaker.
* 70 tattoos? Did he die from ink poisoning?
* Anyway, that’s the skinny from West Virginia.
CLIP: Here is the mortician, describing the process of tattoo preservation. From Silence of the Lambs, “It rubs the lotion on its skin…”
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/ItRubsTheLotionOnItsSkin(dot)mp3″

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

SELL TICKETS TO YOUR WEDDING TO STRANGERS

A woman has invented a new app called Invitin that allows couples to sell invitations to their wedding to total strangers. Founder Katia Lekarski started the company after realizing she isn’t invited to as many weddings as she’d like. (* Katia Lekarski is an idiot.) Lekarski got the idea when she was renting her house in south-eastern France to some people who were attending a wedding, and her five-year-old daughter asked: “Why aren’t we also invited to weddings?” With Invitin, people can buy tickets to available weddings to help couples with the cost, while getting a chance to mingle with other guests. Invitin takes a commission from the tickets. Generally, there are 5 to 10 paying strangers at the ceremonies, costing an average of $100 to $150 per guest. As well as following the dress code and turning up on time, the ticket-buyers have to drink in moderation, and can’t share any photos without permission. Also, the couple getting married aren’t required to actually talk to the paying guests.
* Do you at least get a piece of cake?
* No way any of this can go wrong.
* How many pages is the liability waiver?
* The money the strangers pay can go towards hiring an armed guard for the gift table.
* She’s got the business model wrong. There are many more people who would pay a total stranger to take their place at a wedding.

TRENDING

KENNEDY CENTER HONOREES

President Trump, in his self-appointed role as leader of The Kennedy Center entertainment complex in Washington, D.C., has personally selected this year’s Kennedy Center honorees:
– Country legend George Strait
– “Rambo” star Sylvester Stallone
– Rock band KISS
– English actor Michael Crawford (the original ‘Phantom of the Opera’ on Broadway long, long ago)
– and, for some reason, 1970’s disco singer Gloria Gaynor
The President also says he’s going to host the show, which will be in December.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

Sept. 1, Monday – Labor Day
Sept. 11, Thursday – Patriot Day
Sept. 19, Friday – National POW/MIA Recognition Day (The third Friday of September)
Sept. 22, Monday – Fall begins (Autumn Equinox is 2:19 p.m. EDT)
Oct. 13, Monday – Columbus Day
Oct. 16, Thursday – National Boss’s Day
Oct. 31, Friday – Halloween

BIRTHDAYS

Mila Kunis (actress, “Bad Moms,” Meg Griffin on “Family Guy”) … 42
Halle Berry (actress) … 59
Susan Olsen (actress, Cindy on “The Brady Bunch”) … 64
Earvin “Magic” Johnson (basketball legend) … 65
Gary Larson (cartoonist, “The Far Side”) … 75
Danielle Steel (romance novelist) … 78
Steve Martin (comedian, comic actor) … 80
Dash Crofts (singer with Seals and Crofts) … 87

Today’s Birthdays grade: Holy cow! Every single name on today’s list – and it’s a big one – is a legend. Acting, singing, comedy, sports, romance novels, comic strips … it’s mind-boggling. Grade: A-plus, for quantity and quality.

[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 believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you’re an idiot.”

(A) Adam Sandler
(B) Amy Schumer
(C) Steve Martin

ANSWER: (C) Steve Martin

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2024 – New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit his 300th career home run in a 10-2 win over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, Chicago, reaching this milestone faster than Ralph Kiner (in games) and Babe Ruth (in at-bats).
* Although reaching that milestone against the 2024 White Sox was like breaking a speed record on a downhill slope with a tailwind.

2003 – A major outage knocked out power across the eastern United States and parts of Canada. Beginning at 4:10 p.m. ET, 21 power plants shut down in just three minutes. All told, 50 million people lost power for up to two days in the biggest blackout in North American history, estimated to cost $6 billion.
* All the inconvenience of a blackout without the fun of the alcohol.

1953 – Russia announced it had tested a hydrogen bomb.
* And a young Boris Yeltsin drank his first official toast.

1953 – The Whiffle Ball was patented.
* Filling the gap for sports enthusiasts too wimpy for softball.

1945 – President Truman announced the surrender of Japan and the formal end of World War Two.
* And the formal end of wars we could unabashedly feel good about.

1925 – The idea for Mount Rushmore was first proposed.
* Now there’s a national monument that rocks!

1923 – The comic character “Felix the Cat” debuted.
* Little did he know he’d soon be surpassed by a mouse in red shorts.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2009 – George Michael was arrested and held on suspicion of driving under the influence of drink or drugs after his Land Rover was in a collision with a bus.

2006 – Boy George was sweeping streets in New York as part of a five-day community service sentence.

1999 – Backstreet Boys sold all 765,000 tickets for their North American tour in just one day, generating an estimated $30 million. Most of the tickets were sold within one hour.

1995 – Members of the Grateful Dead met and decided to cancel their fall tour in the wake of Jerry Garcia’s death.

1992 – Wayne Newton filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The singer, a former owner of the Alladin Hotel in Las Vegas, was one of the highest paid performers on the Vegas strip.

1985 – Michael Jackson won a bidding war with Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono to purchase ATV Music’s publishing catalog, whose inventory of over 4000 songs included roughly 250 Beatles compositions by Lennon and McCartney.

1971 – The Who released their fifth studio album, “Who’s Next,” considered by many critics to be their best record and one of the greatest rock albums of all time. The LP included such hits as “Behind Blue Eyes,” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

1965 – Sonny & Cher’s “I Got You Babe” began its three-week run at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

1962 – The Beatles and their manager, Brian Epstein, made the decision to let go of drummer Pete Best. One day later, John Lennon and Paul McCartney visited drummer Ringo Starr, asking him to officially join the band.

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. On average, parents tell their children to do THIS 4 times a week. What is it?
Tie their shoes

2. On average, parents with young children tell them to do THIS at least once a day. What is it?
Listen

3. A study found that 40% of parents have ordered their kids to do THIS. What is it?
Finish all of the food on their plate

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