FRIDAY, June 14 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR FRIDAY, June 14, 2024
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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, or the hundreds of disease awareness listings which occur each year.)

FAMILY HISTORY DAY

FLAG DAY
The On This Day website says this:
“(On this day in 1777) The Continental Congress in Philadelphia adopted the ‘Stars and Stripes’ as the national flag of the United States. The Flag Resolution stated ‘Resolved: that the flag of the United States be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.’ On May 20, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson officially proclaimed June 14 ‘Flag Day’ as a commemoration of the ‘Stars and Stripes.'”

NATIONAL BOURBON DAY

NATIONAL STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE DAY

U.S. ARMY BIRTHDAY
The U.S. Army Center of Military History website says this:
“The U.S. Army was founded on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlistment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year.”

WORLD BLOOD DONOR DAY

WORLD SEA TURTLE DAY

June is:

NATIONAL DJ MONTH – Yeah!
National Adopt a Cat / Adopt a Shelter Cat Month
African-American Music / Black Music Appreciation Month
Corn Month
Great Outdoors Month / National Camping Month
International Men’s Month
Lemon Month
LGBTQIA Pride Month
National Candy Month
National Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Month
National Iced Tea Month
National Rose Month
National Seafood Month
Women’s Golf Month

THE BUZZHALF OF US SAY OUR PARENT IS OUR BEST FRIEND

Over half of Americans say their parent is their best friend. A new survey by Comfort Keepers of 2,000 Americans aged 40 and older revealed 58% feel closer to their parents now more than ever before. The survey also revealed that during the Golden Years, four in 10 respondents (41%) said they learned something about their parent’s youth that surprised them.
* People YOUNGER than 40 feel closer to their parents when they need someone to watch their kids.
* Or because they’re still living at home.
* Hey, Dad, got any wild stories from your youth?” “Oh, I could tell you some doozies. But then I’d have to kill you.”
* PHONE TOPIC: Did you learn a weird thing about a parent in their later years?

U.S. NEWS

CUSTOMER THROWS COFFEE, BARISTA SMASHES WINDSHIELD

A Seattle, Washington, man became irate on Tuesday when he heard how much his drive-thru coffee was going to cost. He started arguing at the window with Emma Lee, barista and owner of ‘Taste of Heaven Espresso.’ Customers tried to step in and talk the man down, but things quickly escalated. He threatened her, and then threw his coffee at her. But Emma Lee was faster and slammed her window shut. Then, she whipped out a hammer, leaned out and smashed it into his windshield. Even with a smashed windshield, Lee said he refused to leave, so she called the cops, and they got him to leave. Interviewed by local news, Emma Lee said, “At what point are we told we’re supposed to just wait for it to get worse?”
* “Barista Vigilantes.” If that were a show I’d watch it.
* She keeps a hammer within reach? Nice neighborhood.
* Usually you go to a coffee place to sober up from getting hammered.
* If only there was some way to let drive-thru customers know how much items cost before they order them.
* If the coffee price made him mad, wait ’til he gets his windshield replaced.
* As the owner and sole employee, I’m sure she reprimanded herself and put this on her own permanent record.

PARENTS GO $2,000 INTO DEBT TO TAKE FAMILY TO DISNEY

Lending Tree surveyed over 2,000 U.S. consumers and found that 45% of parents taking their children under 18 to Disney World have taken on debt to do so. On average, parents of young children took on $1,983 in Disney-related debt. Many said they have no regrets about their choices and that the trip was a “treat” for their kids.
* And honestly, can you put a price on your children’s smiles? Well, you don’t have to, ’cause Disney’s already done it.
* Nineteen-hundred bucks. And that’s just for a day pass.
* Putting your family into even more debt so the kids can go on rides. Just the way Walt Disney imagined it all those years ago.
* Before you walk through the gate you’re already in Debentureland, on your way to Debt Mountain and I’ll-Worry-About-That-Tomorrowland.
* Ever feel like you’re getting monorailed by Scrooge McDuck?

WELLS FARGO FIRED WORKERS FOR FAKING “KEYBOARD ACTIVITY”

The Wells Fargo wealth management company fired more than a dozen employees last month after finding they were faking work. The staffers, all in the firm’s wealth- and investment-management unit, were found to be “simulating keyboard activity creating the impression of active work.” It’s unclear whether the employees were faking active work from home or the office. Devices and software to imitate employee activity, sometimes known as “mouse movers” or “mouse jigglers,” took off during the pandemic work-from-home era. Such gadgets are available on Amazon.com for less than $20.
* How else are you supposed to open up all those fake Wells Fargo accounts if you don’t use a fake keyboard?
* “Creating the impression of active work.” Y’know, like a dozen streets department workers filling one pothole.
* Does Wells Fargo actually have any money, or employees, or are they just sort of making up the whole thing?
* I do a lot of mouse jiggling when I’ve had too much coffee.
* Look, people: if you really want to just pretend to work, go into radio. You just sit around all day playing good music and talking with your friends.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TOWN KILLS, COOKS AND EATS CROCODILE OF TERROR

The small, remote town of Bulla in Australia’s Northern Territory was being terrorized by a massive 12-foot saltwater crocodile. It had been eating pets and lunging out of the water chasing children. What to do? Well, it’s Australia: they shot the crocodile and cooked it up for a town barbecue. Territory Police Sergeant Andrew McBride said the animal was “cooked up into crocodile tail soup, he was on the barbecue, a few of the pieces were wrapped up in banana leaves and cooked underground.”
* Now parents are telling their kids to go up to a cop, point to a random cow and say “That thing tried to eat me.” Free dinner.
* Like they say in Bulla: “Revenge is a dish best served grilled.”
* A town barbecue, and free belts for everybody!
* Another interesting fact about the town of Bulla is, their jails are empty. Just don’t ask why.

WOMAN FLIES TO DAD’S WEDDING A YEAR TOO SOON

Last December, Llarissa Pye, 29, received news that her father, 53, got engaged to his partner of three years. He told her, “It’s on my birthday next year,” which is June 2, and he also said, “We’re sorry it’s short notice, we understand if you can’t make it.” Pye, who lives in the Canary Islands, made a reservation to fly 1,700 miles from the Canary Islands to England on May 31. She found a coworker to cover her shift, got to the airport, and texted her dad to say, “I’m at the airport; see you in a few hours.” She put her phone into sleep mode, unaware of the surge of calls and texts she was about to receive from her dad. Eventually she looked at her phone and saw a notification. Then, she called her dad to find out what had happened, only to learn she had booked her flight a year before the actual wedding. Pye said, “We were just laughing down the phone.” She continued on the trip to her hometown in Cheshire, England, and was able to try on bridesmaid dresses and catch up with her friends and family.
* Communication was always a problem in their family, I take it.
* So Dad’s “short notice” comment was supposed to be a joke? Ha – good one, Dad. Now how ’bout paying half the airfare?
* Is there a special number you call to report to the news media when you do something really dumb?
* Sometimes you can’t plan enough. My mom wants to know now what side dish I’m bringing to Thanksgiving dinner.
* PHONE TOPIC: Did you ever get the date wrong in a really, really bad way?

TRENDING

TAYLOR SWIFT FANS CAUSE SEISMIC ACTIVITY

Taylor Swift’s fans at her concerts in Scotland were so active they set off earthquake monitors by dancing so hard. According to the British Geological Survey, seismic activity was recorded up to six kilometers away during the three shows last weekend at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield stadium, with some of Taylor’s biggest songs causing spikes in activity every night. Shake It Off and Cruel Summer made the ground move, and Ready For It? caused the highest level of ground vibration. The movement was detected at two monitoring stations, the furthest away of which was 6km.

TAYLOR SWIFT ANNOUNCES WHEN “ERAS” TOUR WILL END: DECEMBER

Taylor Swift has officially revealed when her history-making Eras Tour will end. The musician made the announcement during the tour’s 100th show in Liverpool, England, Thursday. “This is the very first time I’ve ever acknowledged to myself and admitted that this tour is going to end in December,” she said, during her nightly “All Too Well” speech before the 10-minute song.

JIMMY FALLON SIGNS FOR FOUR MORE YEARS OF “THE TONIGHT SHOW”

Jimmy Fallon and his wig has renewed his deal with NBC, and will keep hosting The Tonight Show through 2028. Fallon’s renewal comes a month after Seth Meyers re-upped at NBC, keeping him at Late Night for four more years. Both hosts recently passed the 10-year mark at their respective shows.

HANSON ANNOUNCES DOUBLE-NIGHT TOUR

Hanson – Anybody? Anybody? – Hanson, the brothers behind the cultural sensation “Mmmbop” back in the 90’s, just announced their upcoming ‘Underneath Experience Tour’ this fall. They’ll play their 2004 album “Underneath” in its entirety two nights in a row at venues all over North America. On night one, Taylor, Isaac and Zac will perform an acoustic version of the 13-song record along with special guest Matthew Sweet. Plus, all of those “night one” shows will be followed by an afterparty DJ’d by Taylor. After that, they’ll play the following night at the same venue but this will be an electric set accompanied by Phantom Planet.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

TODAY – Flag Day
June 16, Sunday – Father’s Day
June 19, Wednesday – Juneteenth
June 20, Thursday – Summer begins (The June solstice occurs at 4:50 P.M. EST)
July 4, Thursday – U.S. Independence Day
Sept. 2, Monday – Labor Day
Sept. 11, Wednesday – Patriot Day
Sept. 23, Sunday – Fall begins (Autumn Equinox is 8:44 a.m. EDT)

BIRTHDAYS

Steffi Graf (retired German tennis star) … 55
Stephen Wallem (actor, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Nurse Jackie”) … 56
Boy George (80s singer with Culture Club, real name George O’Dowd) … 63
Will Patton (actor, “Outer Range,” “Yellowstone”) … 70
Donald Trump (former President of the United States, business tycoon, TV personality) … 78

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

“The point is that you can’t be too greedy.”

(A) Jeff Bezos
(B) Mark Zuckerberg
(C) Donald Trump

ANSWER: (C) Donald Trump

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1951 – The first commercial computer, UNIVAC 1, entered service at the Census Bureau.
* It took up a whole room and could only store about 100 photos of naked celebrities.

1894 – Thomas Edison filmed a boxing match in New Jersey today in 1894. It was the first sporting event to be recorded on celluloid.
* Followed quickly by the first “Instant Replay” rules.

1881 – The player piano was patented.
* Finally you could hear something besides “Chopsticks.”

1847 – Robert von Bunsen invented the Bunsen burner.
* When asked what gave him the idea, Robert replied, “It’s cool to melt stuff.”

1834 – Isaac Fischer Jr. patented sandpaper.
* I still don’t understand how something scratchy makes other things smooth.

1777 – The Continental Congress adopted the Stars & Stripes as the official U.S. Flag.
* Even though you shouldn’t really mix patterns with stripes.

1775 – The U.S. Army was founded.
* Just in time too, what with the revolution about to start …

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2019 – Britney Spears was granted a restraining order against her former manager, Sam Lutfi, who looked after her career from 2007 to 2008. A judge granted the five-year order forbidding Lutfi from contacting Spears and her relatives and from making disparaging comments about them online. The singer’s father, Jamie Spears, told the court how Lutfi had been a “predator” on his family for over 10 years and he was “worried” about his potential influence.

2007 – Bob Dylan won Spain’s Prince of Asturias Arts Award, one of the country’s most prestigious honors. Jury chairman Jose Llado called Dylan a “living legend of popular music and the guiding star of a generation that dreamed of changing the world.” Previous winners of the annual prize include U.S. film-maker Woody Allen.

2002 – Mick Jagger became a Sir when he was knighted by the Queen of England.

1997 – Puff Daddy and Faith Evans started an 11-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with “I’ll Be Missing You,” a tribute to the late Notorious B.I.G.

1986 – Bob Geldof received an honorary Knighthood in recognition of his humanitarian activities.

1986 – Three fans died during an Ozzy Osbourne gig at Long Beach Arena, California after falling from a balcony.

1980 – Billy Joel started a six-week run at No.1 on the U.S. album chart with “Glass Houses,” his second U.S. No.1 album.

1923 – The first country music hit was recorded – “The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane.”

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. Sales of THIS shoot up at least 50% in the Spring. What is it?
Packaged salads

2. More than 90% of us have eaten THIS at least once in the last 30 days. What is it?
Pizza

3. The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture says in a year, the average person will eat 8.5 pounds of THIS. What is it?
Pickles

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