FRIDAY, Jan 24 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP EMAIL AND TEXT VERSION FOR FRIDAY, January 24, 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.)

BEER CAN APPRECIATION DAY
The History website says this:
“Canned beer made its debut on this day in 1935. In partnership with the American Can Company, the Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company delivered 2,000 cans of Krueger’s Finest Beer and Krueger’s Cream Ale to faithful Krueger drinkers in Richmond, Virginia. Ninety-one percent of the drinkers approved of the canned beer, driving Krueger to give the green light to further production.”

BELLY LAUGH DAY
The Days Of The Year website says this:
“Belly Laugh Day is a day for having a good chuckle at anything at all. Did you know that laughter has been know to causes the tissue lining our blood vessels to expand and increase blood flow? This in turn makes you feel more positive, boosts your immune system and generally just makes us feel happier. Even just looking forward to something in advance has similar positive effects as the act itself. It reduces stress and increases chemicals that help relaxation. Let’s get people laughing anywhere and everywhere!”

CHANGE A PET’S LIFE DAY
The Sergeants blog says this:
“Not only is changing a pet’s life easy to do, it’s an act that will give back a hundredfold. This special day was created to encourage pet adoption and to spread awareness about animal welfare. Hundreds of shelters across the U.S. participate by offering reduced adoption rates and there are many ways you can celebrate. And, you’ll not only change a pet’s life, but your life may change forever as well.”

NATIONAL COMPLIMENT DAY

NATIONAL PEANUT BUTTER DAY

TALK LIKE A GRIZZLED PROSPECTOR DAY

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

THE BUZZ

THAT’S DISGUSTING

Reddit asked, “What is the thing you find disgusting but others don’t?” Some of the responses:
– “Empty glasses of milk. The little bit left behind always makes me wanna throw up for some reason.”
– “Sitting in a warm seat someone was just in.”
– “The texture of wooden cutlery, like cooking spoons.”
– “Corduroy.”
– “Bellybuttons. I have an irrational hatred of them.”
– “Sharing headphones.”
– “Eating birthday cake after someone has blown all over it, especially a little kid.”
– “Cotton balls and styrofoam.”
– “Microfiber. Worst texture ever.”
– “Cottage cheese.”
– “Mixing types of noodles . Can’t stand it.”
– “Wearing socks twice, they just feel so dirty after you have already worn them once.”
* PHONE TOPIC: What is something you find disgusting thatmost other people don’t?

 

HOW TO HANG YOUR TOILET PAPER, BY AN EXPERT TOILET PAPEROLOGIST

Here we go again with another discussion about how to hang your toilet paper. This time, an expert from the company that makes toilet paper is getting in on the action. Gregg Weaver is a senior scientist at Charmin. He says, “I’m team over.” But – he’s able to back up his allegiance with data. Or, at least, what passes as data these days. Here’s what he says:
– Ease of use plays the biggest factor in hanging your roll. “When you load the roll with sheets coming over, it’s easier to grab the sheets at the end of the roll hanging out from the wall. If the roll is loaded under, the sheet will hang closer to the wall, making it harder to find and grab.”
– The Over-hang is more hygienic. Weaver says that, by pulling your toilet paper down from the front side of the roll, you are avoiding any contact with dirt or germs that it might pick up from the back wall where, apparently, germs lie in wait to jump over to the toilet paper you are about to use. Weaver says pulling it from underneath “increases the chances of touching the wall, where others might have as well, especially in public places.”
* There you go. Argument settled.
* Here with a rebuttal is a Doctor of Wipeology from the Quilted Northern company.
* In any case, it’s good these companies have their crack teams on it.
* Now he’s got me obsessed about the germs on the wall behind the roll. I’m picturing something that looks like the Mucinex mucous monster.

U.S. NEWS

THE MAN WHO LEAKED CHOLESTEROL

A new case study published Wednesday in JAMA Cardiology tells of a Florida man who had such high levels of cholesterol that it literally started seeping out of his body. Cardiologists at Tampa General Hospital said the man, in his 40’s, came in complaining about very noticeable “yellowish nodules” emerging from his hands and elbows. About eight months before, the man had switched to the so-called carnivore diet. He ate high amounts of fat. He regularly ate six to nine pounds of cheese, whole sticks of butter, and daily fatty hamburgers. Remarkably, the man reported losing weight and improved mental clarity after he started the diet. But unfortunately, he started leaking cholesterol. Doctors found that his blood cholesterol level exceeded 1,000 milligrams per deciliter, well above the high-normal level of 200. They diagnosed him with xanthelasma. Normally, excess cholesterol is carried away by white blood cells. But when there’s too much cholesterol, the cells form deposits in your body that eventually erupt from the skin. Pictures show the man’s hands with bright yellow cholesterol patches under the skin. Despite the diagnosis, the report does not say what steps, if any, the man took to remedy the situation.
* There you go – a literal butterfingers.
* It’s called the carnivore diet because wolves and lions have easy access to butter, cheese and 90% fat ground beef.
* I bet the guy can cook French fries in his hand just by holding them on a hot day.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ROCK BAND BRINGS DOWN THE CEILING DURING CONCERT

On Wednesday, a concert at Festival Hall in Melbourne, Australia, went a little haywire. The American heavy metal band Bad Omens was performing the final song in their set when they set off some confetti cannons. The explosive concussions dislodged pieces of the ceiling, which fell onto the crowd. Several fans were injured by the falling debris – none life-threatening but still painful and injurious. Bad Omens appeared to have been completely unaware of the incident, as they proceeded to perform the rest of the song before walking offstage and returning shortly after for an encore.
* Stupid band. You’re supposed to raise the roof, not cave it in.
* Heavy metal, man – it’s right there in the name, it’s not gonna stay up in the air.
* Lately, it’s been performers on stages who are hit with stuff – thrown by the audience.
* This would never happen to a band named Good Fortune. (* apparently, there IS a band named Good Fortune.)

LOAD OF ANTI-TANK MINES MISTAKENLY LEFT AT IKEA WAREHOUSE

A Polish general was fired last week after misplacing 1,000 tons of anti-tank mines that were later found in an IKEA warehouse. In June 2024, a train carrying more than 1,000 tons of explosives was traveling around the country making deliveries, and at one point the anti-tank mines were eventually offloaded in the IKEA warehouse. Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Artur Kępczyński kept the mishap from his superiors while falsifying supply reports. It all worked fine – until an IKEA warehouse worker called military officials and inquired about “when they would collect their mines.”
* Was this the same IKEA worker who told the train people “Sure, I’ll sign for those. Put ’em in the back.”?
* IKEA did promise to provide assembly instructions and an Allen wrench.
* One slip and everybody in the IKEA warehouse would have turned into a Swedish meatball.
* Poland… tons of anti-tank mines… It’s been 85 years – are they still nervous about being invaded?
* In the meantime, there’s a Polish platoon somewhere trying to assemble a trainload of designer bookshelves.

COST OF CLIMBING MT. EVEREST JUST WENT UP

Do you want to climb Mt. Everest? It’ll now cost you more. The country of Nepal is increasing the climbing permit fee, from $11,000 to $15,000. Climbing fees are a key source of revenue and employment for Nepal. About 300 permits are issued each year for Everest.
* Unbelievable! I am SERIOUSLY considering cancelling my trip.
* I mean – $15,000? For that much, I could spend an entire weekend at Disneyland!
* Is there a toll gate of some sort at the bottom? Is there a guy halfway up who checks your ticket?
* What sort of amenities will I be getting for that extra cost? An extra sherpa? A mint on my pillow every night? Clean restrooms on the way up?
* So the entire country of Nepal depends on $4,500,000 a year? You can’t even buy a U.S. Congressman for that little money.

TRENDING

SZA JOINING KENDRICK LAMAR AT SUPER BOWL HALFTIME

SZA will be joining Kendrick Lamar as a guest during Super Bowl halftime performance. The announcement was made Thursday. Lamar and SZA would lead the halftime festivities from the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9.

DUCK DYNASTY COMING BACK

After eight years off the air, “Duck Dynasty” is returning to A&E with the new series “Duck Dynasty: The Revival.” The two-season reboot will consist of 20 one-hour episodes and is set to premiere in summer 2025. The new series will follow Willie Robertson, wife Korie Robertson and “their growing family of adult children and grandchildren, the next generation of Robertsons living on the family homestead in Louisiana,” according to the press release. Viewers can expect appearances by original fan favorites, including Uncle Si Robertson and Miss Kay Robertson along with Willie and Korie’s kids

THE OSCAR NOMINATIONS

The Oscar nominations were announced Thursday morning. Here are the major categories:
Best Picture
– Anora
– The Brutalist
– A Complete Unknown
– Conclave
– Dune: Part Two
– Emilia Pérez
– I’m Still Here
– Nickel Boys
– The Substance
– Wicked

Best Actress
– Cynthia Erivo – Wicked
– Karla Sofía Gascón – Emilia Pérez
– Mikey Madison – Anora
– Demi Moore – The Substance
– Fernanda Torres – I’m Still Here

Best Actor
– Adrien Brody – The Brutalist
– Timothée Chalamet – A Complete Unknown
– Colman Domingo – Sing Sing
– Ralph Fiennes – Conclave
– Sebastian Stan – The Apprentice

Best Animated Feature
– Flow
– Inside Out 2
– Memoir of a Snail
– Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
– The Wild Robot

Best Original Song
– “El Mal” – Emilia Pérez
– “The Journey” – The Six Triple Eight
– “Like a Bird” – Sing Sing
– “Mi Camino” – Emilia Pérez
– “Never Too Late” – Elton John: Never Too Late

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

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

Daveed Diggs (actor, “black-ish”) … 43
Christina Moses (actress, “A Million Little Things”) … 47
Ed Helms (actor, “Vacation,” “Hangover” movies, “The Office”) … 51
Matthew Lillard (Shaggy in some of the “Scooby-Doo” movies) … 55
Nastassja Kinski (actress, “Cat People,” “Paris, Texas”) … 64
Neil Diamond (singer, songwriter) … 84
Aaron Neville (singer) … 84
Ray Stevens (novelty song singer) … 86

Today’s Birthdays grade: It’s been a big week for birthdays of people big in the 70s and 80s and today we have three such singers all in their 80s. And we have stars from an iconic TV show and film franchise, and one of the many iterations of “Scooby-Doo” productions. Not super stellar but not bad. Grade: C-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!

“Music has the ear of the world. Composers have the unlimited opportunity to move people emotionally and uplift them spiritually.”

(A) Eminem
(B) Snoop Dogg
(C) Neil Diamond

ANSWER: (C) Neil Diamond

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2004 – NASA’s Opportunity rover landed on Mars three weeks after its identical twin, Spirit.
* Two for the price of one! Wait – this is the government work – make that two for the price of four!

1985 – The Voyager II spacecraft transmitted the first-ever close-up pictures of Uranus.
* That was the historic day in comedy when a TV announcer said, “Look! Uranus has rings around it!”, and 9-year-old Randy Guggemheim of Jersey City made his famous crack: “I guess that’s from sitting on the toilet too long.”

1935 – The Kruger Brewery in Virginia sold the first beer in cans.
* Finally, I get to announce an anniversary that’s really important.

1922 – The Eskimo Pie was patented by Christian K. Nelson of Iowa.
* Now I know who to curse when I get on the bathroom scale.

1899 – The rubber shoe heel was patented by Humphrey O’Sullivan.
* Known earlier as “Ol’ Slip and Fall on His Big Butt O’Sullivan.”

1888 – The typewriter ribbon was patented.
* Whatever that is.

1848 – James Marshall finds gold at Sutter’s Mill in California, starting the great California Gold Rush.
* Sutter was heard to say, “I KNEW I shouldn’t have sold that mill!”

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2021 – Country music singer Morgan Wallen was at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with his second studio album “Dangerous: The Double Album.” In March 2022, the album established the all-time record for the longest duration at the No.1 spot (98 weeks and counting) on Billboard’s Country Albums chart.

2016 – David Bowie was at No.1 on both the U.S. & UK album charts with his twenty-fifth and final studio album “Blackstar,” Bowie’s only album to top the Billboard 200 in the U.S.

2008 – Amy Winehouse entered rehab. A statement from her record company, Universal, said she entered the facility “after talks with her record label, management, family and doctors to continue her ongoing recovery against drug addiction.” Winehouse died at the age of 27 of alcohol poisoning on July 23, 2011.

1981 – Steve Tyler of Aerosmith was hospitalized after a crash on his motorbike.

1979 – The Clash released their first single in the U.S., “I Fought The Law.”

1976 – Bob Dylan started a five-week run at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with “Desire.”

1976 – Diana Ross went to No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Theme From Mahogany,” the singer’s third U.S. No.1.

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. The average American throws out about THIS many pounds of garbage each day. How many pounds is it?
Ten

2. THIS takes up the most space in landfills. What is it?
Paper

3. THIS item of garbage takes 80 to 100 years to decompose. What is it?
An aluminum can

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