FRIDAY, Jan 17 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR FRIDAY, January 17, 2025
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COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: THE FRIDAY CLUSTERFLICKS

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.)

BEN FRANKLIN DAY / KID INVENTORS’ DAY
The Kid Inventors Day website says Benjamin Franklin invented the first swim flippers at age 12.

CABLE CAR DAY
The Days Of The Year website says this:
“In early 1871, British-born U.S. resident Andrew Smith Hallidie received the first patent in relation to the cable car, an occasion which is marked by Cable Car Day. Hallidie’s design for cable-propelled transit emerged when he witnessed horses falling, and even dying, while attempting to pull cars up San Fransisco’s steep Jackson Street. Two years after receiving his cable car patent, Hallidie set up the world’s first cable car rail road on Clay Street.”

DITCH NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS DAY”

NATIONAL BOOTLEGGERS DAY
The National Day Calendar website says this:
“January 17 is the birthday of Templeton Rye Whiskey. When Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages on January 17, 1920, many enterprising residents of a small town in Iowa chose to become outlaws – producing a high-caliber and much sought-after whiskey known as Templeton Rye. Templeton Rye became Al Capone’s whiskey of choice, quickly finding its way to the center of his bootlegging empire. January 17 is not only the birthday of Templeton Rye, but it’s also the birthday of Al Capone. The earliest use of the term ‘bootlegger’ was during the 1880s in the Midwest, when one would conceal flasks of liquor in their boot tops when going to trade with Native Americans.”

NATIONAL HOT-BUTTERED RUM DAY

POPEYE DAY
The Mental Floss website says this:
“On January 17, 1929, Popeye made his first appearance in E.C. Segar’s comic strip Thimble Theater, and the spinach-eating sailor with the oversized forearms and corncob pipe would not only go on to become the strip’s most popular character, but also see his star rise to the uppermost levels of comics royalty in the years that followed. Considered by many to be one of the greatest comics—and cartoon—characters of all time, Popeye was an unexpected success for Segar and the publishers of Thimble Theatre, and he went on to spawn a wildly popular animated series, multiple iterations of comic strips, and even a live-action film.”

January is:

Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
Be Kind to Food Servers Month
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
Financial Wellness Month
Get Organized Month
National Candy Month
National Clean Up Your Computer Month
National Hobby Month
National Skating Month
National Train Your Dog Month
Walk Your Pet Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

COUNTRY STAR ORVILLE PECK TO STAR IN “CABARET” ON BROADWAY

Country music star Orville Peck has joined the cast of Broadway’s “Cabaret.” Peck, who is commonly known for wearing a mask and not revealing his face in public, will play the Emcee in the show starting March 31, for 16 weeks only. Tickets available now.
* Of course, they’ll have to change the name from “Cabaret” to “Honky Tonk.”
* Will he wear a mask? Or maybe just really gigantic eyelashes.
* Look for those famous country Cabaret songs:
– “Howdy, Bienvenue, Howdy”
– “My Pickup Belongs To Me”
– “Mein Beer”
– “Beedle-ee-dee-dee-dee, Two Whiskeys”
– “Life is a Cabaret, Old Pal”

THE BUZZ

HOW TO TELL IF YOU ARE (OR AREN’T) YOUR PARENTS’ FAVORITE CHILD

A study out of Brigham Young University, analyzing data from over 19,400 participants, concludes that parents do indeed treat their children differently, and the way they choose their “favorites” is more systematic than you might think. Here are some of the findings:
– Both mothers and fathers tend to favor daughters.
– Parents give more favorable treatment to children who demonstrate responsibility and organization in their daily lives, from completing homework on time to keeping their rooms tidy.
– Parents tend to grant older siblings more autonomy.
– Children who demonstrate responsibility through behaviors like completing chores without reminders or planning ahead for school assignments typically experience more positive interactions and fewer conflicts with parents.
– While parents acknowledged treating daughters more favorably, children themselves didn’t report noticing significant gender-based differences in treatment. This suggests that some aspects of parental favoritism operate so subtly that children may not consciously recognize them.
* Wait – let me see if I have this right: Parents yell less at kids who do what they are told? Why is this just now coming to light?
* If you want to be your parents’ favorite, don’t start a fire in your bedroom. Trust me.
* Brigham Young University studied 19,400 participants. That’s like, what, six Mormon families?
* I was not my parents’ favorite kid. And I was an only child.

THE MOST POPULAR DREAM JOBS

Financial services provider Remitly analyzed global Google search trends for 186 countries over the past year, looking for most-searched-for occupations, and came up with what they say are the most popular dream jobs in every country.
– For example, there were 432,360 searches for “how to be a pilot,” therefore the most popular dream job across the globe is pilot.
– The second place dream job is Attorney.
– In third place is Law Enforcement.
– Rounding out the Top Ten are Pharmacist, Nurse, Physical Therapist, Midwife, Prosecutor, Actor and Judge.
– Other occupations in the top 20 include Lecturer, Professor and, sadly, Influencer, Blogger, and DJ.
* Hey – wait a minute!
* I’ve often dreamed of throwing in the towel on radio and becoming a midwife.
* Where are the fun jobs? Pro Athlete? Astronaut? Professional D-List Celebrity On Reality Shows?
* “Financial services provider” is not a dream job. It’s actually more fun putting together lists of Google searches.
* It’s nice of them to spend the time and money on this, but if you have money with financial services provider Remitly, you might want to go check your portfolio.

U.S. NEWS

PHILADELPHIA NEEDS HISTORIC ACTORS

Historic Philadelphia Inc. is seeking actors to work as costumed storytellers who will “portray real life people who lived in Philadelphia during the time of the American Revolution and the 18th Century.” (* Yes, just like Keith Richards.) You would be stationed around Philadelphia’s historic district and at Valley Forge National Historical Park, interacting with visitors looking to learn more about American history. You get to wear pantaloons and buckled shoes. The job posting says that you should “be able to work well with others, acting experience preferred but not required, know the importance of the guest’s experience, be engaging, flexible, and an overall great communicator.” Auditions will be held on Jan. 24 and 25.
* It would also be a big advantage if you could play the fife.
* Mostly, you’ll be telling tourists how to get to Reading, Pennsylvania, birthplace of Taylor Swift.
* I guess it could be a nice change for people who play peasants at Renaissance festivals.
* Thanks, but I’m holding out to be a driver of the Wienermobile.
* You do have to know a little history about Philadelphia, like:
– When the first battery was thrown at an Eagles game.
– Who invented the cheese steak, Ben Franklin or Betsy Ross.
– Who was the first Founding Father to use the word “youse.”

AUDIO: LONG ISLAND CROSSWALK SIGNS NOW HAVE A LONG ISLAND ACCENT

A lot of modern crosswalks now have Walk/Don’t Walk signals with a digital voice alert that tells you, or perhaps a visually impaired person, when it’s safe to cross the street. Nowadays, with digital voice replication, the signs are getting fancy. Here is audio from a TikTok that recorded a crosswalk alert on the Montauk Highway. The electronic voice has a Long Island accent. I sweah ta gawd it does! Heah, check it out, ya deadass:
CLIP: Crosswalk has a Long island accent.
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/MontaukHighwayCrosswalkVoice(dot)mp3
You know… there was a time where they had celebrities voicing directions in your car’s GPS. (Yes, it was in 2009!) These were some of the failed attempts at Celebrity GPS Directions:
CLIP: William Shatner
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/06-19-GPS03-Shatner(dot)mp3
CLIP Tom Hanks gives directions for driving in Rome
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/06-19-GPS05-TomHanks(dot)mp3
CLIP: Homer Simpson
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/06-19-GPS01-Homer(dot)mp3
CLIP: Ozzy Osbourne
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/06-19-GPS11-OzzyOsbourne(dot)mp3

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

WEIRD CANADIAN NEIGHBORS

The Local Government Compliance and Enforcement Association of British Columbia, Canada, is sharing the top 10 strangest calls people made about their neighbors that officers across B.C. received in 2024:
– A resident was upset with a neighbor who planted yellow tulips that clashed with the color of their fence.
– An individual was shopping in a thrift store and brought in a cat who was yowling loudly because it was in heat.
– A resident was upset that their neighbor was throwing dog feces into their yard – turned out to be molehills. (* I’d be angry, too, if I had a mountain of molehills in my yard.)
– A member of the public was upset because someone in their town had an approved Emotional Support Duck and yet the caller’s friend would like a chicken and cannot have one due to regulations.
– A member of the public was afraid of a tarp on their neighbor’s property.
– A resident was upset that a neighbor bought a new vehicle that was yellow in color and believed it went against “community standards.” (* What do Canadians have against the color yellow? Do they think it might be mistaken for the sun?)
– A member of the public was concerned because the pond continued to attract snakes and other wildlife.
– A member of the public who identifies as a dog wanted to purchase a dog license for himself.
– One complainant said their neighbor’s cat sits on the fence and stares at them.
– A person said their neighbor was “purposefully” farting at them and wanted them arrested for harassment. (* Or his-assment, as the case may be.)
* These don’t even make the radar when it comes to problems between neighbors in America. Where are the police? Where are the SWAT teams?
* Canadians, if you’re listening – let me introduce you to a word you might not be familiar with. That word is: soaree.
* PHONE TOPIC: Have you got a neighbor that does something to tick you off?

TRENDING

BRUCE WILLIS SHAKES COP’S HAND IN VIDEO

News media made a big deal yesterday over an Instagram showing actor Bruce Willis out on a Los Angeles street shaking hands with a policeman. It was a silent video, apparently filmed by his wife Emma Heming, who captioned it, “Spotting a first responder, Bruce never missed a chance to show his gratitude with a heartfelt handshake and a ‘thank you for your service.’” The video of Willis is notable as he is rarely seen in public since it was announced he is suffering from frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a progressive brain condition. In the video, Bruce looks like an average healthy guy.
[Note from Sidekick: Let’s examine this story a little deeper. The actual video is 8 seconds long. There is no audio. Then there’s a posed still-picture of Bruce standing next to the cop. The Willis family – all of Bruce’s daughters and wife Emma Hemming – are certainly never shy about reminding the world that he has frontotemporal dementia – on their own social media. There is such a thing as medical privacy, but boy, those kids and mom never miss a chance to put themselves out there on social media in the name of poor ol’ dad.]

CONAN TO GET MARK TWAIN PRIZE FOR HUMOR

Comedian and former late-night talk show host Conan O’Brien is set to receive the 2025 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The award will be presented to O’Brien at a star-studded ceremony March 23 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Said Conan in a press release: “I am honored to be the first winner of the Mark Twain Prize recognized not for humor, but for my work as a riverboat pilot.”

BOB UECKER DIES AT 90

Bob Uecker, the backup catcher turned Hollywood star, and the legendary radio voice of the Milwaukee Brewers for more than five decades, has died. He was 90. Uecker was a career .200 hitter but gained fame thanks to his quick wit. Nicknamed “Mr. Baseball” by “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson during one of Uecker’s 100 or so appearances on late-night TV, he starred in a popular series of Miller Lite commercials, then in the ABC sitcom “Mr. Belvedere” and in the “Major League” film trilogy. He authored two books, hosted “Saturday Night Live” and WrestleMania, and famously graced the pages of Sports Illustrated as a septuagenarian in a speedo. But Uecker’s first love was baseball. Following six seasons in the Major Leagues with the Braves, Cardinals and Phillies, then a failed stint as a Brewers scout, Uecker’s voice became one of the sounds of summer in the Midwest. He joined the Brewers radio team in 1971.

DAVID LYNCH DIES AT 78

David Lynch, the master filmmaker who cast a spell over audiences with surreal, dreamlike drama films such as “Eraserhead,” “The Elephant Man,” “Blue Velvet,” and “Mulholland Drive,” and the classic bizarre TV show “Twin Peaks,” has died. He was 78. Lynch revealed in 2024 that he had been diagnosed with emphysema after a lifetime of smoking, and would likely not be able to leave his house to direct any longer. His family announced his death in a Facebook post, writing, “There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’”

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

January 20, Monday – Inauguration Day
January 20, Monday – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 27, Monday – Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day (UN)
January 29, Wednesday – Chinese New Year (The Year of the Wood Snake)
February 2, Sunday – Groundhog Day
February 12, Wednesday – Lincoln’s Birthday
February 14, Friday – Valentine’s Day
February 17, Monday – Presidents Day / Washington’s Birthday
March 9, 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

Zooey Deschanel (actress, Bridget in “Trolls” movies, “New Girl”) … 45
Kid Rock (rapper, real name Robert James Ritchie) … 54
Michelle Obama (former First Lady) … 61
Jim Carrey (actor) … 63
Susanna Hoffs (singer with The Bangles) … 66
Steve Harvey (TV host, actor, author, businessman, former stand-up comedian) … 68
Maury Povich (talk show host) … 86

Today’s Birthdays grade:

Today’s Birthdays grade: One-of-a-kind performer Jim Carrey, entertainment powerhouse Steve Harvey, incurably perky Zooey Deschanel, and more! Grade: A solid B.

[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 need a people fix every once in a while. I need mass audience. I need them all staring at me and completely transfixed. Everybody must be glued to me every moment.”

(A) Kanye West
(B) Madonna
(C) Jim Carrey

ANSWER: (C) Jim Carrey

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1997 – A court in Ireland granted the first divorce in the Roman Catholic country’s history.
* A-a-a-a-a-nd THEY’RE OFF!

1929 – Cartoon character “Popeye” made his first appearance, in the comic strip “Thimble Theater.”
* Kids everywhere chowed down on spinach so the neighborhood bully wouldn’t beat them up, and promptly got the crap knocked out of them.

1861 – The flush toilet was patented by Mr. Thomas Crapper.
* Of all the 19th century inventions, this one was voted #1 and #2.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2020 – Wiggles founding member Greg Page (Yellow Wiggle) suffered a cardiac arrest at a Wiggles reunion show that was raising funds for Australian bushfire relief efforts. He collapsed on stage and stopped breathing; off-duty nurse Grace Jones, who was in the audience, performed CPR with Wiggles drummer Steve Pace and band staff member Kimmy Antonelli, and used a defibrillator three times before Page was transported to a hospital. The cardiac arrest was caused by a blocked artery, which was treated, and Page recovered.

2003 – A long-lost recording featuring John Lennon and Mick Jagger was set to spark a biding war at a London auction. The acetate record was recorded in 1974 with Jagger singing the blues song “Too Many Cooks” and Lennon playing guitar. The track had never been released because the two artists were both signed to different record companies.

2003 – Singer Lou Rawls was arrested at Albuquerque Airport, New Mexico after a incident with his companion, Nina Inman. Officers reported that she and Rawls had been talking about their relationship when the conversation escalated into a shoving match resulting in Rawls being booked on one count of battery on a household member.

1994 – Donny Osmond took part in a charity boxing match held in Chicago against former Partridge Family member Danny Bonaduce. Donny lost 2-1.

1976 – Barry Manilow scored his second U.S. No.1 single with “I Write The Songs” written by Beach Boy Bruce Johnson.

1974 – Dean Martin’s son Dino Martin was arrested after attempting to sell two AK-47 machine guns to an undercover agent.

1972 – A section of Highway 51 South in Memphis was renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard.

1967 – Britain’s Daily Mail ran a story about a local council survey finding 4,000 holes in the road in Lancashire – inspiring John Lennon’s contribution to The Beatles song “A Day In The Life.”

1966 – NBC-TV bought The Monkees series, placing it on their 1966 autumn schedule.

1963 – Appearing at The Marquee Club, London were the Cyril Davies All Stars, The Velvets and, bottom of the bill, The Rolling Stones. Tickets cost 4 shillings, or 56 cents.

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. Experts say doing THIS throughout the work week will improve your mood. What is it?
Thinking about the weekend

People do THIS all the time on weekends; rarely on weekdays. What is it?
Relax

3. 35% of us will do THIS at least once this weekend. What is it?
Pay a bill

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