TUESDAY, April 8 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR TUESDAY, April 8, 2025
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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. We present only those specially designated days we feel your listeners would find most interesting or significant.)

SPECIAL NOTE: One week until Tax Day!

BUDDHA DAY
The History website says this:
“On this day, Buddhists celebrate the commemoration of the birth of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, thought to have lived in India from 563 B.C. to 483 B.C. Actually, the Buddhist tradition that celebrates his birthday on April 8 originally placed his birth in the 11th century B.C., and it was not until the modern era that scholars determined that he was more likely born in the sixth century B.C., and possibly in May rather than April.”

INTERNATIONAL ROMA/ROMANI DAY
The National Today website says this:
“The Roma were originally itinerant court musicians who originated from South Asia — parts of present-day India and Pakistan. Though they are travelers who adapt to the cultures of their host communities, the Romani have their own cultural language, and distinct genetic makeup. The Roma migrated to Turkey, France, and Spain during the Middle Ages. In the early 1800s, a large number of Romani also migrated into many American nations such as the U.S., Brazil, and Canada. International Romani Day traces its origin to the first major international meeting of Roma representatives, which was held from April 7 to 12, 1971, in Chelsfield near London. April 8 was officially declared as the International Day of the Roma in 1990 during the fourth World Romani Congress, which was held in Serock, Poland. This international cultural awareness day celebrates Roma’s culture and history, art, and valuable contributions of Roma to our societies. It’s also a day to acknowledge and highlight the different challenges facing the Romani population — one of the largest minority groups in Europe today. Even in modern times, the Romani people still battle systemic discrimination, poverty, and social exclusion. Today, International Romani Day is recognized by all European and international organizations and institutions.”

NATIONAL EMPANADA DAY

TRADING CARDS FOR GROWN-UPS DAY

ZOO LOVERS DAY

April is:

Adopt a Greyhound Month
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 Humor Month
National Poetry Month

ENTERTAINMENT & CELEBRITIES

AUDIO: ORIGINAL BEATLES DRUMMER PETE BEST ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

Well, it’s the day we all hoped would never come, but here it is. The drummer for The Beatles is retiring. Yes, Pete Best, the ORIGINAL drummer for the Beatles, has announced his retirement at the age of 83. The news was posted on social media by Pete’s younger brother, Roag Best. He wrote, “My brother Pete Best has announced today he is retiring from personal appearances and performing with the group.” Pete himself added on to the post: “I had a blast. Thank you.” Best grew up in Liverpool, England. Paul McCartney invited him into the group in 1960, but after two years, everybody realized he wasn’t a very good drummer. (* See audio clip.) In 1962, Pete was told by the Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein, that Ringo Starr would be replacing him.
* Does anyone want to tell him he actually retired in 1962?
* His fan must be heartbroken. That was not a typo.
* Wow. You’re born with the name “Best,” but you aren’t. Ouch.
* Well, I hope he and Yoko can live out their remaining years together in happiness.
CLIP: Paul, George and John on why Pete was booted from The Beatles.
CLIP URL: morningsidekick(dot)com/prep/wp-content/uploads/paul-george-john-on-pete-best(dot)mp3

THE BUZZ

SURPRISING NUMBER OF MEN THINK THEY CAN RUN FASTER THAN A RACEHORSE

In the lead up to Britain’s Grand National horserace, an online betting company called Freebets asked 2,000 people if they thought they could beat different animals in a footrace. 2% of men – two out of every hundred – think they could beat a horse in a 100 meter sprint.
Fun facts those 2% might not be aware of:
– The first sentence on the UK’s “Jockey Club” website is this: “Racehorses can run 100 meters in half the time it takes the fastest humans on the planet to do so at top speed, which puts them amongst the fastest animals on the planet.”
– The highest race speed in recorded history was achieved by Winning Brew in May 2008 at the Penn National Race Course in Grantville, Pennsylvania, USA. Recorded over two furlongs (.25 miles), the speed was 70.76km/h, or just under 44 mph.
– To run a three-minute mile, a human would have to run 20 mph. No human has ever officially run a three-minute mile.
So, that 2% of men think they can run OVER TWICE AS FAST AS ANY HUMAN HAS EVER RUN. EVER.
Here are the animals in the survey that people think they could outrun, in order of easiest to hardest:
1. Crocodile
2. Elephant
3. Hippopotamus
4. Rabbit
5. Goat
6. House cat
7. Swarm of bees
8. Mongoose
9. Kangaroo
10. Cheetah
11. Ostrich
12. Fox
13. Deer
14. Zebra
15. Horse
* I suppose it depends if the crocodile is wearing sneakers or not.
* An ostrich is a lot easier to beat if its head is in the sand.
* Did these men answer the survey after three or four hours in the local pub?
* I’ve got a file folder full of wacky news stories that pretty much sets the record straight on which animals are faster than a human.
* I hope the guys making the next “Gladiator” sequel are looking at this list. Last time they brought out a rhino. Let’s see combat with kangaroos, or bees.

U.S. NEWS

FUGITIVE DARES COPS TO FIND HIM; THEY DO

A Tennessee man wanted on a warrant was arrested after he posted a video on TikTok challenging the police to come find him. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office says Devon Bart, 25, was found and arrested on Friday after sharing pictures on his page, writing that “if I’m going to jail, they have to find me first.” (* Which is pretty much how it works, no?) Deputies located Bart and arrested him without incident.
* Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
* “Come and get me, coppers” – the BEST kind of TikTok Challenge.
* When cops showed up at his door he asked “How about best 2 out of 3?”
* Maybe the cops grabbed lunch before the arrest, so in the chain of events they actually found him second.
* “To protect and to serve … and to get morons off the streets.”

FLORIDA WOMAN CONS FLORIDA MAN WITH TAROT CARD READINGS

In Doral, Florida, a woman was arrested after she allegedly conned a man out of thousands of dollars during a bogus tarot card reading. Here’s what happened: On March 11, the man found a flyer on his car for a tarot reading. He paid $20. Then the tarot reader got him to come back for a “spiritual cleansing” that would cost between $600 and $700. (* For the extra $100 you get the undercoating.) Then she got him to come back a third time with $3000, assuring him the money would double when she performed a ritual. She put the money in a bag with some eggs. During the ritual, the bag was broken. Inside were just broken eggs and worms. He demanded the money back, she claimed she couldn’t due to her “state of mind.” He called the cops; she told them she’d never met the man. The woman, Carmen Valdez De Miguel, was arrested for theft. She already had three warrants in separate theft cases.
* The eggs alone had to be worth $500 bucks.
* She was playing Go Fish with those cards, and caught a big one.
* Why did he keep coming back? Are they sure all she was doing was that mystical stuff? No, like, “special” massages?
* I like how they call it a “bogus tarot card reading.” If only he had gone across the street to the LEGITIMATE tarot reader.
* How can anybody be so du—oh, wait – Florida.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

MAN LEAVES CAN OF COKE WITH ISOLATED ISLAND TRIBE

A 24-year-old American man was arrested for visiting an off-limits island in the Indian ocean. The island is home to a tribe that has been isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years. They also are known to attack anyone who lands on their beaches. In 2018, an American missionary who landed illegally on the beach was shot with arrows and buried on the beach. In 2006, the tribe killed two fishermen who had accidentally landed on the shore. In this latest incident, a man named Mykhailo Polyakov, from Scottsdale, Arizona, sailed there to meet the tribe. He stayed on the beach for about an hour, blowing a whistle to attract attention, but got no response from the islanders. He said he left a can of Diet Coke and a coconut as an offering, made a video on his camera, and collected some sand samples before returning to his boat. He was spotted by local fishermen, who informed the Indian authorities, and Mr. Polyakov was arrested. He faces up to five years in prison.
* How about sentencing him to go back to the island? Or worse, Scottsdale, Arizona.
* An hour. It was like the shortest season of Survivor ever.
* Imagine if this guy had been able to film himself sharing a can of Coke with the tribe? It’s the Coca-Cola advertising version of the moon shot.
* Actually, they went back and looked, and the natives wrote a message on the beach: SEND CAN OPENER.
* Also, it’s a known fact that the tribe prefers Diet Dr. Pepper.

THAI RESTAURANT OFFERS DISCOUNTS DEPENDING ON HOW SKINNY YOU ARE

A restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is being accused of “fat shaming” because they offer discounts depending on how skinny you are. The Chiang Mai Breakfast World cafe has a large metal fence with pickets placed at various spacings. It’s like a human strainer — if you can fit through the 6-inch-wide opening you get 20% off; if you fit through the 8-inch opening you get 15% off; if you fit through the 10-inch opening you get 10% off; if you fit through the 12-inch opening you get 5% off. If you don’t fit through any of the pickets, you pay full price. Some commenters are calling it fat-shaming, but most people see the fun in it.
* Well, the skinny people see the fun in it.
* And if you can’t get through any of the openings, you’re an American!
* It’s like those “You must be this tall to ride” things, only horizontal.
* Does their restaurant have a weight limit, like an elevator?
* If you can fit through the 6-inch space, they should bring you double the food – you need it.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

April 15, Tuesday – U.S. Tax Day
May 11, Sunday – Mother’s Day
May 26, Monday – Memorial Day
June 14, Saturday – Flag Day
June 15, Sunday – Father’s Day
June 20, Friday – Summer begins (The June solstice occurs at 10:42 P.M. EDT)

BIRTHDAYS

Sadie Calvano (actress, “Mom”) … 28
Katee Sackhoff (actress, Bo-Katan Kryze on “The Mandalorian,” “Another Life,” “Longmire,” “Battlestar Gallactica”) … 45
Patricia Arquette (actress, “Severance”) … 57
Robin Wright (actress, “Wonder Woman,” “Blade Runner 2049,” “House of Cards”) … 59
Julian Lennon (singer/musician, son of John) … 62
Izzy Stradlin (guitarist with Guns ‘n’ Roses) … 63
John Schneider (actor, “Smallville,” “The Dukes Of Hazzard”) … 65
Steve Howe (guitarist with Yes and Asia) … 78

Today’s Birthdays grade: Two stars from shows with a lot of buzz – The Mandalorian and Severance – and a variety pack of assorted actors, musicians and singers. No superstars but no slouches, either. 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!

“I grew up in a hippie commune so I have a real hippie part of me.”

(A) Bernie Sanders
(B) Pope Francis
(C) Patricia Arquette

ANSWER: (C) Patricia Arquette

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2011 – Major construction began on the Shanghai Disney Resort, the first Disney resort in mainland China. The resort opened to the public on June 16, 2016.
* It’s Disney – Resistance Is Futile.

2002 – Ed McMahon filed a $20 million lawsuit against his insurance company, two insurance adjusters, and several environmental cleanup contractors. The suit alleged breach of contract, negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress concerning a toxic mold that had spread through McMahon’s Beverly Hills home.
* “Heeeerrrrrrre’s your subpoena!”

1894 – The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that income taxes were unconstitutional – Congress later changed the law.
* AGH! We came THIS CLOSE to getting off! THIS CLOSE!

1766 – An invention was patented which used a wicker basket lowered by a pulley – the first fire escape.
* And to make the wicker basket even safer in a fire, they soaked it in kerosene.

1513 – Explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain.
* His settlement would later be overrun by American retirees.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2022 – Pink Floyd – David Gilmour and Nick Mason alongside long-time Floyd bassist Guy Pratt and Nitin Sawhney on keyboards – reunited to record their first new material in 28 years, a protest song against the Ukraine war.

2006 – The Rolling Stones performed for the first time in mainland China, at Shanghai’s Grand Stage Theatre. The Stones were banned from performing three songs: Brown Sugar, Honky Tonk Woman, and Rough Justice.

1998 – Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood was rescued in the nick of time, along with 11 other passengers, from a boat whose engine caught fire. They were exploring the islands near Angra Dos Reis, south of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, when one of the boat’s engines caught fire. Passengers were rescued by nearby journalists, just before the boat exploded.

1994 – “Nirvana” singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain’s body was discovered by an electrician at his Seattle home, several days after he took his own life. Cobain was 27.

1994 – The RIAA announced that Pink Floyd’s 1973 album “Dark Side of the Moon” had become the fourth biggest-selling album in U.S. history, passing the 13 million mark in sales.

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. 45% of adults who need THIS every day, don’t get it. What is it?
Fruit

2. According to research, eating THIS every day can help lower your cholesterol. What is it?
Ketchup

3. Nearly 2% of the population is allergic to THIS type of food. What is it?
Cheese

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