FRIDAY, Jan 10 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR FRIDAY, January 10, 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.)

LEAGUE OF NATIONS DAY
The History website says this:
“As a result of World War I, influential voices in the United States and Britain began calling for the establishment of a permanent international body to maintain peace in the postwar world. President Woodrow Wilson became a vocal advocate of this concept. Wilson suffered a severe stroke in 1918, which prevented him from convincing Congress to endorse the idea. On January 10, 1920, the League of Nations formally came into being when the Covenant of the League of Nations, ratified by 42 nations in 1919, took effect. The League of Nations proceeded without the United States, holding its first meeting in Geneva on November 15, 1920. In 1946, the mostly ineffectual body was officially dissolved with the establishment of the United Nations. The United Nations was modeled after the former but with increased international support and extensive machinery to help the new body avoid repeating the League’s failures.”

NATIONAL BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE DAY

NATIONAL CUT YOUR ENERGY COSTS DAY
The National Today website says this:
“National Cut Your Energy Costs Day was first established by the Canadian Energy Efficiency Alliance. It’s relevance to wider society means that it is observed in numerous places throughout the world, including the U.S and the UK, where the media often choose this day to publish energy-saving tips.”

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 BUZZHOW DID YOU FIRST MEET YOUR DOG?

Reddit asked. “How did you and your dog meet?” Some of the responses:
– “He came out backwards, with his little legs kicking. That was my dog.”
– “The puppies were all eating out of a big bowl of food except for one. The solo guy walked right through them all, went into the bowl, then laid down in it and proceeded to eat. That’s when I knew he was the one.”
– “Purchasing from a litter and he ran and hid under the fridge. I thought that’s my guy.”
– “Flaky girl from high school asked me to watch her dog for a month. Then flaky girl flaked out. So Peanut lives with us now.”
– “I went for my evening after-dinner walk and saw a car slow down and dump a dog, a small black mixed mutt in the street. I cornered it and it bit my hand, but I held on and took the little bastard home. Not long after, my great-granddaughter was over and really hit it off immediately. She renamed him ‘Rocco.’ Second time the great-granddaughter came over,Rocco ran to the kid like they were best buddies. I couldn’t break up that bond and Rocco went home with the kid.”
* PHONE TOPIC: Have you got a good “How I met my dog” story?

U.S. NEWS

POLICE SEEK MINIBIKE ASS-SLAPPER

In Denver, Colorado, police are asking for help identifying a suspect accused of sexually assaulting a woman jogger. On January 1st, a woman was running on a bike path when a man on an electric minibike rode up behind her and, as he passed, slapped her on the fanny. That same male suspect, while on the minibike, spanked another woman on the same trail on January 2nd. Other similar assaults have since been reported in the area as well.
* They’re hoping to catch him red-handed.
* I’ve never heard of this kind of behavior. Is it brand-spanking new?
* If they catch him, will the judge just give him a slap on the wrist?
* In some quarters, he could be making good money doing that, and here he is giving it away for free.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

AUSTRALIAN POLICE SEEK SELF-IGNITING ARSONIST

Police in Melbourne, Australia, are looking for an arson suspect who ended up pantsless after trying to burn a fast food outlet on Christmas Day. Two men were caught by a security camera pouring flammable liquid on the front of the restaurant. But after setting the liquid on fire, one of the men runs off with his pants on fire. Other security footage caught him peeling off the burning pants as he ran away bare-arsed, as they say.
* That’s what they call a hot streak.
* It was a half-assed attempt that left him fully assed.
* Christmas Day? Did he burn his Yule Log?
* Next time, use a flamethrower.

GERMAN WOMAN BUSTED SMUGGLING 460 CHOCOLATE BARS

German customs officials caught a woman trying to smuggle Dubai chocolate bars into Germany. Dubai chocolate has become internet-famous after a TikTokker posted a video of herself eating a bar of it in 2023. The chocolate bar features a crunchy mix of pistachio cream and knafeh – a crispy filo dough – all encased in milk chocolate. The 33-year-old smuggler had not declared the 460 bars she had spread out among three suitcases as she re-entered the country. She had paid almost 5 euros (about $5) for each candy bar. She was not arrested, but will be investigated for possible tax evasion charges for not declaring them. Customs officials said that the confiscated chocolate bars now have to either be re-exported or destroyed.
* Ooo – ooo!!! I know how to destroy them! I’ll do it!
* She should have declared them – TO BE DELICIOUS!
* If there’s one place that comes to mind when you think of chocolate, it’s 112-degrees-in-the-shade Dubai.
* Meanwhile, in America, they can’t even get the basic Hersey Bar right anymore.

BRITISH TOWN REJECTS NEW PIZZA SHOP BECAUSE LOCAL KIDS ARE “TOO FAT”

The town council of Bacup, England, has denied a permit for a pizza restaurant in their town because the town’s children are “too fat.” Woody’s Pizza, which currently operates two stores in the area, had applied for permission to open a third. But the council argued that a new pizza shop adds nothing to the food and drink offering of the town, and besides – one in five 11-year-olds in the area are classed as obese. Locals, however, are hitting back at the council, arguing the town’s children are “slim.” Previous plans to replace an ice cream and dessert shop on the same road with a hot food takeout restaurant were also refused for the same reasons back in 2023. There are reportedly already 26 takeout restaurants in Bacup.
* Sounds like baby got Bacup.
* Sorry, kids, you’re stuck with British food.
* “One in five 11-year-olds in the area are classed as obese,” or, as Americans say, they’re amateurs.
* How about a combination pizza shop and fitness club where you can only eat the pizza while on a treadmill?
* Wasn’t it Dickens who wrote, “Please, sir, can I have some more… pizza?”

TRENDING

CELEBS WHO HAVE LOST HOUSES IN THE FIRE

If you’re keeping tabs, here are the celebrities who reportedly have lost houses in the L.A. fires: Billy Crystal, Anna Faris, Anthony Hopkins, John Goodman, Cobie Smulders and Taran Killam, Mandy Moore, Jeff Bridges, Eugene Levy, Cary Elwes, Ricky Lake, Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag, Adam Brody and Leighton Meester, Miles Teller, Sandra Lee, Cameron Mathison, Cameron Mathison, Tina Knowles (mother of Beyoncé and Solange), Denise Crosby, Melissa Rivers.

GUY LOSES FANTASY FOOTBALL BET, HAD TO STAY IN JASON ALDEAN’S BAR ALL DAY

A man who goes by @stoned_titan on X lost a fantasy football bet. His punishment was to stay at Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar in Nashville, Tennessee from open to close – 10AM to 3AM. He was allowed to knock off some time by drinking – the rules were, “Drink a beer, knock off 30 minutes. Drink a shot of Rumple Minze (a peppermint schnapps) – knock off an hour. No leaving the bar for any reason.” The guy ended up doing 13 shots during his time there and was able to leave around 7pm. His bar tab — not including food — totaled $169.

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

Evan Handler (actor, “And Just Like That,” “Californication,” “Sex and the City”) … 64
Shawn Colvin (singer) … 69
Pat Benatar (singer) … 72
George Foreman (boxer, tabletop electric grill millionaire and pitchman) … 76
Donald Fagen (singer, keyboardist, founder of Steely Dan) … 77
Rod Stewart (singer) … 80

Today’s Birthdays grade: Rod Stewart turns 80, with some iconic folks close behind. For Boomers, these birthdays probably rate an A-minus.

[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!

“If you’re retired, it’s a blessing. You know, if you want to keep working and doing what you want to do, it’s not a blessing at all – it’s a curse.”

(A) Mick Jagger
(B) Martha Stewart
(C) Pat Benatar

ANSWER: (C) Pat Benatar

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2020 – Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced they were stepping back as “senior” royals, and would work towards becoming financially independent.
* By dumping on the Royal Family in interviews, documentaries, books …

1994 – Lorena Bobbitt went on trial for cutting off her husband’s penis.
* All the males in the courtroom spent the trial sitting with their legs tightly crossed, and periodically wincing.

1967 – America’s Public Broadcasting Service, PBS, began as a 70-station network.
* But hardly anybody tuned in ’cause they were in the middle of a pledge drive.

1949 – The first ever vinyl records were launched in America.
* Just in time for 50s Doo-Wop! Cool!

1946 – The first radar contact with the Moon was made by the U.S. Army.
* “Oh, so that’s what that big thing in the sky is. Thanks for clearing that up.”

1920 – World War One officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was ratified.
* It was called “The War to End All Wars.” Which worked for about 20 years.

1911 – The first photograph was taken from an airplane, over San Diego.
* It came out pretty good, too, except there’s a guy in the north-west corner of town with his eyes closed.

1868 – The last ever deported convicts landed in Australia.
* Britain dumping its criminals on Australia was kind of a giant episode of “Survivor.”

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2016 – English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, painter, and actor David Bowie died from liver cancer in his New York City home, two days after releasing the album Blackstar on his 69th birthday.

2009 – Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie married actor Josh Duhamel at the Church Estates Vineyards in Malibu. Guests included her bandmate Will.i.am and actress Kate Hudson.

2005 – Spencer Dryden, drummer with Jefferson Airplane, died of cancer at his home in California at age 66. Dryden was the nephew of Charlie Chaplin.

2003 – A haul of 500 Beatles tapes, known as the “Get Back sessions” and stolen in the 1970’s, were found after British police cracked a major bootleg operation in London and Amsterdam. Five men were arrested.

2000 – Singer Melissa Etheridge announced that David Crosby was the sperm donor of her two children with girlfriend Julie Cypher.

1999 – DMX was at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with “Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood.”

1979 – Richard Carpenter entered a chemical dependency treatment center in Topeka, KS.

1978 – The Sex Pistols made their U.S. TV debut on the show “Variety.”

1976 – C.W. McCall went to No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Convoy.” C.W. McCall was actually an advertising agency executive whose real name was Bill Fries.

1976 – Deep Purple split up at the end of a British tour. David Coverdale went on to form Whitesnake, while Jon Lord and Ian Paice formed a band with Tony Ashton. The classic line up of Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord & Paice reformed in 1984.

1956 – Elvis Presley made his first recordings for RCA Records at The Methodist television, radio & TV studios in Nashville. “Heartbreak Hotel” was one of the songs recorded during this session.

1964 – The Beatles’ first album in the United States, “Introducing the Beatles,” was released.

1964 – The Rolling Stones recorded “Not Fade Away” at Olympic Studios, London, England. The song – which was first recorded by Buddy Holly and his band, the Crickets – became The Stones’ first U.S. single.

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. Over 1/4 of Americans can do THIS. What is it?
Speak a second language

2. About half of American homes have one of THESE. What is it?
A houseplant

3. Almost half of Americans have worn THESE at least once. What are they?
Mickey Mouse ears

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