TUESDAY, July 29 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR TUESDAY, July 29, 2025

COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: VIAGORO LAWN FOOD

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.)

ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARMY CHAPLAIN CORPS
The Army History website says this:
“As long as armies have existed, military chaplains have served alongside soldiers, providing for their spiritual needs, working to improve morale, and aiding the wounded. The U.S. Army Chaplain Corps is one of the oldest and smallest branches of the Army. The Chaplain Corps dates back to July 29, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized one chaplain for each regiment of the Continental Army, with pay equaling that of a captain.”

INTERNATIONAL CHICKEN WING DAY

INTERNATIONAL TIGER DAY
The Tiger Day website says this:
“International Tiger Day, also known as Global Tiger Day, is an annual celebration to raise awareness for tiger conservation, held annually on 29 July.”

NATIONAL CHICKEN WING DAY

NATIONAL LASAGNA DAY

NATIONAL LIPSTICK DAY
Established in 2016 by Huda Kattan, founder of Huda Beauty. Many beauty brands offer special discounts and promotions on lipstick and other lip products in celebration of National Lipstick Day.

July is:

Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month
Air Conditioning Appreciation Month
Baked Bean Month
Cell Phone Courtesy Month
Family Reunion Month
International Blondie and Deborah Harry Month
National Blueberries Month
National Grilling Month
National Hot Dog Month
National Ice Cream Month
Melon Month

THE BUZZ

YOUR DOG IS OVERWEIGHT

A study tracking nearly 14,000 dogs across the United States reveals that more than half of American dogs are now overweight. Overweight dogs face diabetes, arthritis, kidney disease, and shortened lifespans. [* Shortened but very, very happy lifespans.] Even more troubling: many dog owners have no idea their dogs are overweight: 24% disagree with professional veterinary assessments that their dog is obese. The study, published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, [* More like “American Journal of the Overly Obvious Research”] found that sporting dogs like Labs and Goldens scored highest on “food motivation” measures, meaning they’re more likely to scavenge for scraps, beg persistently, and never seem satisfied after meals. One of the main reasons for overweight dogs is that we don’t put our dog on a diet until after the weight gain has occurred, rather than preventing it in the first place. This is similar to someone who starts dieting only after gaining 20 pounds. Veterinarians have a couple of recommendations:
– Use puzzle feeders to force dogs to work for meals. This satisfies their foraging instincts while slowing consumption.
– Feed them multiple smaller meals throughout the day. This helps food-motivated dogs feel satisfied without increasing total calories.
* Plus you’ll enjoy your dog following two feet behind you every moment it’s awake, looking for that next mini-meal.
* So half of our dogs are fat? I know which half in mine – it’s the back half.
* I could never figure out why Scooby-Doo didn’t weigh, like, 300 pounds.
* We use a puzzle feeder in my house. We pull something out of the fridge, we say, “What the hell is this?”

U.S. NEWS

OFFICIALS STORM COCKPIT, ARREST PILOT

Back on Saturday, July 26, a Delta flight from Minneapolis landed at San Francisco International Airport. As soon as they opened the doors, a group of approximately 10 security officers boarded the plane and arrested one of its copilots. One passenger said the officers “stormed” the cockpit, taking the copilot away to the confusion of everyone, including the other pilot on the flight, who told the passengers he was just as in the dark as they were. The copilot has not been identified by name, nor has any official explained what was going on, although San Francisco television outlet KGO reported the arrest was related to a child pornography investigation. One passenger described the incident as “traumatic to watch.”
* Better or worse than having your flight suddenly drop 500 feet to avoid another plane? It’s all relative anymore.
* Passengers asked if they would also arrest the stinky-foot guy in row 7 who kept his shoes off the whole flight.
* I thought maybe they busted him for turning on the air conditioning in the cabin while they were still on the ground back in Minneapolis.
* His punishment: they’re going to make him go back to Minneapolis.

SCIENTISTS TRY ROBO-BUNNIES TO CATCH FLORIDA PYTHONS

A team of wildlife ecologists at the University of Florida has developed a new way to catch the invasive python snakes invading their state: robo-bunnies. Assistant professor and ecologist Chris Dutton ripped the stuffing out of 40 plush bunny toys and filled them with motors, heaters, and solar panels to make them mimic real rabbits. They look like rabbits, move like rabbits, and even give off a living rabbit’s body temperature. Previous studies showed that live rabbits placed in pens attract about one python per week on average, but it requires too much work to care for multiple rabbit pens spread out across the Everglades. Robo-bunnies would be a much less labor-intensive way to lure pythons into the open. Professor Dutton began testing the solar-powered, remote-controlled rabbits this month, placing them in pens in various parts of South Florida. Each is equipped with a motion-sensor camera that alerts researchers when a python approaches.
* Robo-rabbits. Another amazing invention from Fuddtronics – huhuhuhuhuhuh.
* Why aren’t they calling this thing the B-2000 – The Bunnynator?
* And once the snakes are gone, how does Florida get rid of the ensuing real rabbit population explosion?
* I’m not sure, but this is how you get cybersnakes.
* 100,000 to 300,000 python snakes in Florida vs. 40 animatronic rabbits. They oughta have the snakes under control by the year 3400.
* Sorry. Drones that fire explosive darts would be way cooler, and people would line up to fly them for free.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ARGENTINIAN MAN WINS $12,500 FOR HAVING HIS BUTT EXPOSED ON GOOGLE STREET VIEW

An Argentinian man who had his whole bare butt captured by a Google Street View camera and published to Google Maps was awarded $12,500 by an Argentine court for having his privacy violated and his dignity damaged. The man was naked in his yard in 2017 when a Google Street View car came driving by. Even though he was behind a six-foot fence, the camera caught him. Despite Google blurring the man’s face, he had his rear-end plastered on the internet. It was easily identifiable along with his street name and home address. A first attempt to get compensation was rejected by a court, which said he had no one to blame but himself for “walking around in inappropriate conditions in the garden of his home.” But an appeals court ruled in his favor, recognizing that his privacy was violated by the photo.
* He would have gotten more, but, honestly, his ass was kinda droopy.
* The way they figured the award was, the page had about 4100 views, and the appeals court figured a look at his butt couldn’t possibly be worth more than 3 bucks, so … $12,500.
* How do they blur his face, yet still capture a full moon shot on camera? Was he bent over looking between his legs? Is he double-jointed?
* He says he’s going to use the money to start an Only Fans account.
* Always wear your undies if you live in the Andes.

TODDLER BITES COBRA

A one-year-old boy in the northern Indian town of Bettiah bit a cobra to death. The boy, named Govinda, was playing at his home when, according to his grandmother, they saw the snake in the child’s hand, he’d been bitten, everyone rushed towards him, but in the meantime, he’d already bit the snake, killing it on the spot. After biting the snake, the boy fainted and was rushed to a medical center. The snake venom’s effects were reportedly mild – only knocking the boy unconscious – not fatal.
* Great superhero origin story, huh?
* The spirit of Ozzy Osbourne still moves among us.
* Meanwhile, the snake was thinking, “Oh, so THIS is what it feels like!”
* Kid has a new nickname: Mongoose.
* Boy, how much Death by Teething happens in India?

BRITISH POLICE ARREST MAN FOR GARDENING

In Manchester, England, a man named Samuel Rowe, 35, was trimming his hedge [* not a euphemism] with one of his gardening tools, a Japanese garden sickle, when police showed up, shouted “drop the knife,” cuffed him and arrested him. Police told him a member of the public reported “a man wearing khaki clothing and in possession of a knife.” Mr. Rowe explained that the tool was a Niwaki-brand Hori Hori gardening trowel – which does resemble a dagger. The cops told him “that’s not a trowel,” but Mr. Rowe explained that the trowel was encased in the Niwaki-branded pouch that you get at garden centers. He spent several hours in custody undergoing interrogation until he accepted what’s known as a “caution,” just so he would be released. He’s now looking for a lawyer to get the legal charge off his record along with an apology.
* Apology? This is Britain, not Canada.
* Although in England, I believe it is very possible to be arrested for aggressive gardening. Those people are nuts about it.
* Wait’ll he fires up his weed whacker. They’ll send a SWAT team.
* Britons should know better. Wasn’t it Macbeth who said, “Is this a trowel which I see before me”?

TRENDING

LUKE BRYAN HIT IN THE FACE WITH A BALL DURING SHOW

Luke Bryan was hit in the face by a ball while onstage at the North Dakota State Fair on Saturday night. A video shows a round object flying through the air, hitting Luke right in the puss, in the middle of singing “Country Girl.” Bryan took a moment to gather himself, only missing a line or two before he hops right back into the song. He did not address the incident while onstage. The crowd was described as “extra rowdy.”

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

Sept. 1, Monday – Labor Day
Sept. 11, Thursday – Patriot Day
Sept. 22, Monday – Fall begins (Autumn Equinox is 2:19 p.m. EDT)

BIRTHDAYS

Josh Radnor (actor, “How I Met Your Mother”) … 51
James Otto (country singer) … 52
Wil Wheaton (actor, author) … 53
Martina McBride (country singer) … 59
Patti Scialfa (singer with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) … 72
Geddy Lee (singer-bassist with Rush) … 72
Ken Burns (documentary maker) … 72
Neal Doughty (keyboardist with REO Speedwagon) … 79

Today’s Birthdays grade: Singers and musicians, including from some big 70s and 80s bands, plus actors and a documentary maker. A big selection, not super-outstanding, but no losers. 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 can’t be the big star in the family. We have a family, and we are all equal.”

(A) Kim Kardashian
(B) Miley Cyrus
(C) Martina McBride

ANSWER: (C) Martina McBride

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1981 – Britain’s Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer were married in a lavish royal ceremony.
* If ever there was a man and woman who should have just stayed “friends” …

1914 – The first transcontinental telephone call took place between parties in New York and San Francisco.
* And soon after came the first long distance bills.

1890 – Artist Vincent van Gogh died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Auvers, France.
* “I have nothing to live for! All my paintings are sloppy messes!”

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2022 – Beyoncé’s seventh solo album, “Renaissance,” debuted at No.1 on the U.S. charts, her seventh consecutive album to do so.

2019 – “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus became the longest-running No.1 in U.S. chart history to date after it topped the Billboard Hot 100 for 17 weeks, overtaking Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito” and Mariah Carey’s “One Sweet Day,” which both spent 16 weeks at No.1. The rapper, a college dropout from Atlanta, recorded the song in 2018, using a backing track he bought online for $30.

2007 – Heart problems forced Kiss singer and guitarist Paul Stanley to abandon a show in California. Paramedics stopped and restarted his heart to give it a regular rhythm after his heart spontaneously jumped to 190 plus beats per minute.

2006 – Pamela Anderson married for the second time, to rapper Kid Rock, on a yacht off the French resort of St. Tropez. The 39-year-old former Baywatch star divorced from rock star Tommy Lee in 1998, and had recently got back together with Kid Rock, after a brief engagement ended in 2003. Anderson and Rock split after four months of marriage.

1987 – Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream signed a deal with the Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia for a new flavor called “Cherry Garcia.”

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. We love bragging about getting a “good deal,” and THIS tops the bragging list of good deals. What is it?
Getting a bargain price on a vacation

2. 66% of people do THIS on vacation, but not when they’re back home. What is it?
Order dessert while dining out

3. About 20 percent of people have lost one of THESE while on vacation. What is it?
A tooth

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