FRIDAY, Apr 2 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR FRIDAY, April 2, 2021
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COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: GOD-DANGZILLA

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.)

INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK DAY
The Holiday Insights website says this:
“International Children’s Book Day encourages reading, and promotes the love of books for children. The best and fastest way to develop our young children into intelligent human beings is by teaching them to read. Instilling a love of reading promotes a lifetime of learning and enjoyment.
Libraries celebrate today with story telling hours and other events for young children. You can celebrate today by giving a new book to each of your kids. If they are too young to read, spend time reading stories to them. Its a great and memorable bonding time for you and your child.”

NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY DAY
The Holiday Insights website says this:
“National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day celebrates the “PB and J” sandwich. Its the favorite lunchtime sandwich of American kids, and many adults, too. Some kids practically live on Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches.”

RECONCILIATION DAY
The Holiday Insights website says this:
“Reconciliation Day is a special day to patch relationships and to make amends. It’s intention is to re-establish relationships between family, friends and couples. Life is too short to hold a grudge between those we love. Estranged couples may find today to be an opportunity to work out their problems. People who have had a “falling out” with family members are encouraged to reach out and “mend the fence”. For those considering a reconciliation, the old saying is “It’s never too late”. But, that is not true. Someday, it could be too late. So, please use today to begin your reconciliation.”
Origin of “Reconciliation Day”:
“Since 1989, newspaper columnist Ann Landers promoted April 2nd as Reconciliation Day, writing an annual article dedicated to this day posting and replying to readers’ questions and issues on reconciliation. There are many other “Relationship Days” held around the world on many different dates. Among the countries are South Africa, Korea, Angola and many others that have struggled with war and strife.”

April is:

Car Care Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
D.E.A.R Drop Everything and Read Month
International Guitar Month
Jazz Appreciation Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
National Card and Letter Writing Month
National Garden Month
National Greyhound Adoption Month
National Humor Month
National Poetry Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

“WHEEL OF FORTUNE” UPSETS FANS WITH ARCANE RULE

“Wheel of Fortune” has made fans mad once again. On Wednesday’s episode, contestant David Petersen answered a crossword puzzle-type puzzle of four words. He said, “Soul, Flounder, Cod and Catfish.” (BZZZZZZ) That was incorrect. A rule that was introduced in 2016 says that you have to say the words on the board and ONLY the words on the board. By adding the word “and” to his answer, he was wrong. Another contestant immediately swooped in and gave the answer according to the rules. A spokesperson for the show says, “Contestants are thoroughly briefed prior to the show, and Pat often reminds them of this rule when solving a puzzle in this particular category.”
* Look, if the contestants were really all that swift, they’d be on Jeopardy.
* It’s always fun to see someone do something during this once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s going to make them never, ever want to show the video to anyone, ever.
* In fact, this guy will now probably never even bring up his appearance in a conversation. Think how great that is for everybody else!
* So is it “Sajak, I’m gonna kick your ass AND beat the tar out of you,” or just “Sajak, I’m gonna kick your ass, beat the tar out of you”?
* To its credit, “Wheel of Fortune” really doesn’t have that many rules: Spin the wheel around once, guess one letter at a time, and don’t pick your nose on camera.

THE BUZZ

SOME OF THE GOOD APRIL FOOL JOKES FROM YESTERDAY

Here are some of the April Fool’s jokes played by big companies yesterday.
– Burger King promoted their new ‘Chocolate Whopper’ – a hamburger with tomatoes and onion, and chocolate syrup.
– Duolingo Toilet Paper: Learn foreign phrases from your roll of toilet paper while on the john.
– Lego had a video for Lego Smart Bricks – they automatically scurry out of the way just as you’re about to step on them.
– Peeps announced they were launching a cauliflower-flavored marshmallow Peep.
– Velveeta promoted a new line of cheese beauty products called “V by Velveeta”, including a daily moisturizer, night cream and serum.
– Mike’s Hard Seltzer said they were launching three new flavors with the health-conscious customer in mind: charcoal and kale, flaxseed, and ginseng.
– BirdsEye came out with the ‘Waffles Only Toaster’, a toaster only for frozen waffles.
– Outback Steakhouse announced it would be selling a new collection of meat-branded lipsticks, or “lipsteaks.”
– Bud Light decided to play with that trend by jokingly announcing its new pizza-flavored seltzers: pepperoni, extra cheese, veggie and anchovy.
– Subway advertised a fake plastic hand that attaches to your wrist, to help you hold your sandwich with one hand while freeing up your other hand to use your phone.
– BMW took to Instagram to announce they will removing turn signals from cars by 2022, because they are obsolete and, to quote the joke, “the most underutilized feature on every BMW is the turn signal.”
– Heinz said they were coming out with a product that combines soup with a smoothie, called “Smoop.”
* Are these really any less weird than what they come up with on “Shark Tank”?
* Velveeta forgot Velveeta Deodorant where you slap a slice under each arm.
* How did no one do “Edible Face Masks”? When they wear out, you can just suck ’em into your mouth and eat them. “Edible Face Masks. Don’t need ’em? Eat ’em!”
* Well. That was fun! Totally makes up for one-year-plus of crap we’ve been through.

STUDY FINDS BALD MEN MORE ATTRACTIVE, CONFIDENT, DOMINANT

A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania asked male and female students to rate photos of men. They had to judge each picture based on three categories – attractiveness, confidence and dominance. They found that pictures of bald men led in all three categories. Participants consistently rated natural bald men, and those who had their scalps digitally enhanced to be bald for the study, as stronger than those with thick or thinning hair. In addition, baldness was found to make the men appear taller.
* The study was run by Professor Egghead, Professor Cueball and Professor Chromedome.
* Attractiveness, confidence and dominance. Yeah, that’s George Costanza in a nutshell.
* Because that’s what girls in college want – a bald boyfriend.
* Maybe if he’s Dwayne Johnson or Vin Diesel.
* Then there’s Jeff Bezos with his $180 billion.

U.S. NEWS

MAN TRIES TO BLOW UP HUNTING CAMP

A New York man allegedly attempted to rig an explosion to blow up a hunting camp. Irving Talavera Jr. is a former member of the hunting group who was kicked out of the club. He was accused of – and admitted to – attaching fireworks to the door frame of the hunting camp’s front door, and rigging them to spark when the door was opened. He used the camp’s propane stove to fill the cabin with gas. When two members of the club went to the camp to change the locks on the building – because they had kicked out Talavera – they noticed the smell of propane. They turned off the outdoor propane tank and waited about 20 minutes for the gas to clear. When they opened the door, the fireworks Talavera had rigged did create a spark, but there was no explosion. Talavera allegedly admitted that he had left the propane on and set the fireworks by the door, but claimed that he was simply joking.
* Ha ha ha, good one!
* Hunting camp? It would have been more fun to put a mountain lion in the cabin.
* They popped him – for attempted arson.
* Now he’s out hunting again … for a lawyer.

THE NAKED LADY ROCK CLIMBER

Want to hear about a naked rock climber? Sure you do. New Jersey native Laura Jasorka posts pictures of herself rock-climbing in the nude. The 37-year-old climber says she started posing for the naked climbs last year – getting nothing but encouraging comments when she posts them online under the name Princess Slaya. She says her friends and family admire her photos and think it’s beautiful to see her “at one with nature.” Jasorka claims “I’m not doing anything illegal and I don’t show off everything … it’s not pornographic at all. I find the pictures are artistic.” Jasorka finds it so “empowering,” in fact, that she now hopes to encourage other women to “appreciate their bodies.”
* Which is easier if you’re toned up enough for rock climbing.
* Princess Slaya? Are hip-hop nicknames for rock climbers a thing now?
* Check out Laura’s website. I think you can see her jasorka.
* Look at those formations. The rocks, I mean.
* The first one to make a crevice joke is fired.
* I don’t know a Moab from a Yosemite, but she has some Grand Tetons.
* It’s tricky. Women showing their naked bodies is “empowering,” unless a guy enjoys it, in which case she’s being “exploited.”

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

AUSTRALIAN POLICE APRIL FOOL’S JOKE: DACHSHUND POLICE DOGS

South Australia Police pulled an April Fool’s Day prank, announcing a new K-9 unit of three Dachshunds, called the Small Area Urban Searching And Guided Evacuation Dogs unit, or “S-A-U-S-A-G-E Dogs.” In a video posted online, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said of the new recruits: “It’s been really hard work lifting those 40-kilo Shepherds, especially above your head.” He said these smaller sausage dogs allow for new tactical approaches, saying, “We can chuck them under cars, under cupboards and things like that.” He also suggested that they might attach the dogs to drones and “tactically deploy them” into people’s homes and other hard-to-reach locations. (video: youtube(dot)(com)/watch?v=jAEuvmnWE_Y)
* That idea sounds like a wiener.
* The idea is to sic them on suspects, and while the guy is laughing, cuff ’em.
* It’s mean to get the Dachshunds all excited over this, and then tell them it’s just a joke.
* It’s more than mean. It’s low. Like the dogs.

TRENDING

FEELING JUDGED WHEN YOU SNEEZE OR COUGH IN PUBLIC

Over half of Americans say they now feel judged when they have to sneeze in public, even when they’re masking up. A survey by Flonase polled 2,000 Americans.
– Over half the poll (56%) feel guilty after sneezing or coughing.
– 55 percent experience a slight moment of panic when they feel the urge to sneeze coming on.
– People have the urge to shout things like “Great, now people think I’m sick,” “I promise I’m NOT sick,” and “It’s just allergies, I swear!”

TV TONIGHT

ABC – “Shark Tank” – An invention that helps prevent the spread of germs. Thanks, but you’re about 15 months too late.

ABC – “20/20” – Convicted murderer Lyle Menendez speaks out from prison following his and brother Erik’s newfound TikTok fame. Good move, ABC. Give them even MORE publicity.

CBS – “MacGyver” – MacGyver tries to corral the Covid surge in Brazil using 16 tanker trucks of Purell and 40,000 Super Soakers.

CBS – “Magnum P.I.” – When a Marine Corps vet’s SUV is stolen with her service dog inside, Magnum and Higgins must find the car, the dog and the car thief. Tonight’s show sponsored by LoJack.

NBC – “The Blacklist” – Red’s increasing weight gain puts a strain on the team, and also on Red’s office chair.

NBC – “Dateline NBC” – A man claims his young wife killed herself after she is found dead in her burning home. Worst alibi ever – how can she kill herself after she’s found dead?

FOX – “WWE Friday Night SmackDown” – The wrestlers look like they care, but they really just want to be the next Dwayne Johnson.

CW – “Wipeout” – Fire performers, a rock ‘n’ roll father-daughter duo and bubbleologists have a chance to traverse three of the most challenging courses in “Wipeout” history. You’ve got nothing better to do tonight than watch “bubbleologists”?

CW – “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” – Featuring father-and-son magicians Ryan and Johnny Hayashi. That’s kind of sweet, and also kind of sad.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

April 1, Thursday – April Fools Day
April 4, Sunday – Easter
April 15, Thursday – This is NOT the federal tax filing due date for individuals this year – it has been extended to May 17
May 9, Sunday – Mother’s Day
May 17, Monday – U.S. Tax Day – deadline for filing taxes
May 31, Monday – Memorial Day
June 14, Monday – Flag Day
June 20, Sunday – Father’s Day
June 20, Sunday – Summer begins, Solstice is 11:32 p.m. EDT

BIRTHDAYS

Jesse Plemons (actor, “Antlers”, “Black Mirror”, “Fargo”) … 33
Adam Rodriguez (actor, “Criminal Minds”) … 46
Roselyn Sanchez (actress, “Grand Hotel”, “Devious Maids”) … 47
Clark Gregg (actor, “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”) … 59
Christopher Meloni (actor, “Law & Order: Organized Crime”, “Happy!”, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”) … 60
Emmylou Harris (country singer) … 74
Linda Hunt (actress, “NCIS: Los Angeles”) … 76

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

“I rarely see one of the ‘summer blockbuster’ movies. I’d like to see a stronger focus on smaller, smarter movies.”

(A) Dwayne Johnson
(B) Vin Diesel
(C) Christopher Meloni

ANSWER: (C) Christopher Meloni

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

COVID 19 – ONE YEAR AGO:
– According to Johns Hopkins University, the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide passed 1 million, with 1,002,159 cases and 51,485 deaths reported.

2011 – Highly radioactive water leaked into the sea from a crack at Japan’s stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant.
* Isn’t this how “Godzilla” began?

2007 – In its first case on climate change, the Supreme Court declared in a 5-4 ruling that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are air pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
* Okay, everybody – stop exhaling!

1995 – Baseball owners accepted the players’ union offer to play without a contract, ending the longest and costliest strike in professional sports history.
* The players had to hold out for more money, to pay for the new generation of steroids coming on the market.

1978 – Velcro went on the market.
* And stuck there.

1966 – The Soviet Union’s “Luna 10” became the first spacecraft to orbit The Moon.
* It took pictures of a cold, desolate place with no life or resources … kinda like Russia.

1954 – Plans were announced for the building of Disneyland.
* Of course, back then it was just called the Magic Blueprint.

1877 – The first Easter season Egg Roll was held on the grounds of the White House in Washington, DC.
* And an hour later everybody was hungry again.

1845 – H. L. Fizeau and J. Leon Foucault took the first photograph of the Sun.
* What – it took TWO guys to point a camera at the Sun and click the shutter?

1827 – Joseph Dixon began manufacturing lead pencils.
* And the next day, several hundred were hanging from the ceiling of the factory.

1792 – Congress established the Philadelphia mint.
* It was delicious, AND freshened your breath!

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2006 – A John Lennon schoolbook containing the 12-year-old’s drawing of Lewis Carroll’s poem The Walrus and the Carpenter was sold at auction for $239,733. The poem inspired Lennon to write The Beatles’ 1967 song “I Am the Walrus”.

2001 – Mariah Carey signed the richest recording deal in history. The 31-year old singer signed a deal with Virgin for three albums worth over 90 million dollars. The singer had sold over 120 million records worldwide, scoring 14 US No.1 singles.

1999 – The Black Crowes played a concert in Knoxville, Tennessee. Joshua Harmon, a teenager sitting in the second row, sued the band a year later for $385,000, claiming significant hearing loss.

1998 – Rob Pilatus, one half of disgraced pop duo Milli Vanilli, was found dead in a Frankfurt Hotel room after taking a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol.

1990 – In England, Eric Clapton was fined over $500 for speeding at 105 mph. Clapton was also banned from driving for three months.

1967 – 154 Austrian Rolling Stones fans were arrested when a riot broke out at a 14,000 seated Town Hall gig. A smoke bomb was thrown on the stage.

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. About 10% of people say they really, truly hate THESE. What are they?
Girl Scout cookies

2. Almost 10% of people surveyed say they don’t like THIS food. What is it?
Pancakes

3. Only 1% of Americans say they hate THIS food. What is it?
French Fries

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