TUESDAY, Mar 18 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR TUESDAY, March 18, 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.)

BIODIESEL DAY
(From various sources)
National Biodiesel Day is observed annually on March 18th – the birthday of Rudolph Diesel. Rudolph Diesel invented the diesel engine and unveiled it at the World Fair in 1900. The engine was originally designed to run on peanut oil, and R. Diesel was a big believer in the role plant oils could play in fueling America. In a 1912 speech, Diesel said, “…the use of vegetable oils for engine fuels may seem insignificant today, but such oils may become, in the course of time, as important as petroleum and the coal-tar products of the present time.” Biodiesel is a cleaner burning, petroleum-free alternative to diesel that can be made from animal fat, vegetable oil and recycled cooking oil. It is reducing U.S. dependence on imported diesel and creating green jobs as well as improving our environment. Biodiesel is America’s first advanced Biofuel and has become an increasingly popular fuel.

FORGIVE MOM & DAD DAY
The Days Of The Year website says this:
“Parenting is an enormously challenging task and although some parents are better than others, none are perfect. Forgive Mom & Dad Day presents a perfect opportunity to let go of past hurts and frustrations, to let well-meaning but disappointing parents off the hook, and to find freedom from nagging resentments. Forgiving opens the door to a brighter future.”

NATIONAL AWKWARD MOMENTS DAY
The National Day Calendar website says this:
“On March 18th, we recognize National Awkward Moments Day. This is an annual day that every person can relate to as we have all had our own awkward moments from time to time as they are a part of life; they just happen. Awkwardness or embarrassment is defined as an emotional state of intense discomfort with oneself. Have you ever called someone by the wrong name, tripped over nothing, walked into a door, had the completely wrong words come out of your mouth or just forgot what you were doing? The list could go on and on. Sometimes, things just do not seem to go right and something happens that may make you feel like you want to run and hide. Whether on National Awkward Moments Day or any other day, everyone has them. Find the ability to laugh at yourself, see the humor in awkward moments and have fun with them.”

OATMEAL COOKIE DAY

SUPREME SACRIFICE DAY
The Holiday Insights website says this:
“Supreme Sacrifice Day recognizes the ultimate sacrifice made by some for the good of others. History is filled with examples of people who offered the supreme sacrifice for other people. Soldiers in battle have given their lives to protect our freedom, our way of life, and to keep us safe. Fireman and police officers have given their lives in the line of duty, while saving and/or protecting people. Today is a day to reflect and offer thanks and appreciation to those who made the supreme sacrifice for us.”

March is:

Adopt a Rescued Guinea Pig Month
American Red Cross Month
Employee Spirit Month
Expanding Girls’ Horizons in Science and Engineering Month
Gender Equality Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
National Craft Month
National Women Inventors Month
National Women’s History Month
Read an E-Book Month

THE BUZZLIT MADNESS: THE WORST VILLAIN IN ALL OF LITERATURE

In honor of March madness, the LitHub website put together a bracket of the worst villains in literature. Sixty-four villains faced off against each other. The list included – and you’d better be up on your reading – Nurse Ratched, Miss Trunchbull, Richard III, President Snow, Cruella DeVil, Kurtz, Randall Flagg, Mr. Hyde, Sauron, Mrs. Danvers, Lady Macbeth, Hannibal Lecter, Becky Sharp, Javert, Gollum, Captain Hook, Carrie, Frankenstein’s Monster, and many more. The final four: O’Brien, the bad guy from 1984; Sauron, ruler of Mordor in Lord of the Rings; Hannibal Lecter, from Silence of the Lambs; and Satan, from the Bible. And the winner is… the worst villain of all time, the Hissy Award goes to… O’Brien, from the novel 1984, who initially appears to be a sympathetic ally to the hero Winston, but ultimately orchestrates his capture and brutal indoctrination.
* I thought for sure Satan would take it after his performance in the talent portion of the competition.
* The person who picked the most winners gets a trophy. Everybody else gets a library card.
* We just lived through a billion dollars of non-stop movie marketing, and The Wicked Witch of the West in the Oz books isn’t even mentioned? Ouch!
* Lex Luthor is infuriated that comic books weren’t included, and has vowed to destroy LitHub.

U.S. NEWS

BUS FULL OF BAGPIPERS CRASHES

A busload of bagpipers returning from a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Milford, Pennsylvania, crashed into a tractor-trailer. The accident happened on Interstate 84 in northeastern Pennsylvania shortly before 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The bus was carrying the Greater Scranton Black Diamonds Pipe Band back from the parade. Seventeen people on the bus had minor injuries. The band expects everyone to make a full recovery.
* Of course they were ok. Everyone had their own personal airbag sitting on their lap.
* A busload of bagpipers. What a bunch of blowhards.
* Happily, the bagpipes were undamaged. At least, not as anyone can tell.
* Luck of the Irish, my Aunt Fanny.
* Well, I guess that’s all I can squeeze out of THIS story.

HOUSEKEEPING FINDS ALLIGATOR LEFT BEHIND IN MOTEL ROOM

Housekeeping staff at a Michigan motel were shocked to find a live alligator left behind by a guest. The three-foot-long reptile was found in the Pine River Motel in Cheboygan last Friday. The room’s occupant had been a collector of exotic animals who takes them around schools. Motel manager “Gary” said Wally was a real friendly gator, and let the police officers hold him and all that. Wally was reunited with his owner on Friday night. He had assumed Wally had escaped into the wild. It isn’t known if any charges have been filed.
* Yeah, charges for an extra night. And maybe a carpet cleaning.
* That’s just the kind of responsible owner you want taking dangerous reptiles around to schools. Can’t find your alligator in my tiny motel room? Musta got out. Oh well.
* Time for an Apple AirTag.
* On the bright side, the hotel has a lot fewer mice.
* Knock knock. / Who’s there? / Iguana. / Iguana who? / Housekeeping, iguana clean your room.

STRANDED ASTRONAUTS COMING HOME TODAY

Stranded US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are scheduled to fly back to earth today (Tuesday), ending their extended, nine-month stay in space. They are expected to make a water landing Tuesday evening near Florida. The NASA astronauts, who were supposed to be in space for only a week, will travel home with fellow American Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon Capsule. They became stuck at the space station when their return capsule developed problems and NASA didn’t want to risk their lives, deciding to wait until they could fly home in a more dependable spacecraft.
* What’s the tariff on astronauts entering the country these days?
* After nine months in space, they’re coming home to a measles epidemic, sketchy economy, a country that the rest of the world is mad at, and an egg shortage. The new astronauts had to manhandle them into the return capsule.
* What’s happening with the faulty Boeing capsule? Backyard fort for one of the engineers’ kids?
* First stop for Astronaut Suni Williams: Claire’s at the mall, so she can buy a damn hairband.

EGGS OVERTAKE FENTANYL IN THE SMUGGLING RACKET

Currently, according to reports, more eggs than fentanyl have been seized by agents at the Mexican border:
– Since October, border officers have seized 3,800 poultry-related products compared to 352 seizures of fentanyl, according to US Customs and Border Protection data.
– In Laredo, Texas, a hot spot for egg smuggling, (* Lar-eggo, Texas?) seizures have risen by 54 per cent. Meanwhile, in San DiEGGo, California, egg seizures have more than doubled.
– In El Paso, since January, agents have foiled 90 would-be egg smugglers trying to ferry them across the border. One official noted, “The price is like a third of what it is in the rest of the US.”
* Hmm. Fentanyl – sudden death. Eggs – a lifetime of high cholesterol. Definitely a better deal, right?
* All along the border, there are hundreds of downtrodden chefs in baker’s hats, wandering the alleys looking for their egg fix: “Please, I just need two for this cake recipe. Three if you want it extra-rich.”
* Imagine delivering illegal eggs to the local Egg Lord: “Hey – this carton is one short! You been dippin’ into the supply?” “No, no, I just wanted to make sure the eggs were fresh, man!”
* In El Paso, they want to turn Waffle House into a Safe Egg site, where people can get two over-easy without being hassled by the border patrol.
* Relax, folks. Bird flu outbreaks are down, egg shipments are recovering, and producer prices are dropping. You should be able to get your fentanyl like normal pretty soon.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

SPANISH MAN QUITS GOING TO WORK FOR SIX YEARS, IS HONORED BY THE COMPANY FOR LONGEVITY

A Spanish man who was rewarded for his many years with the company was discovered to have been avoiding going in to work for the past six years. Joaquín García stopped going to his job because he claims he had no work to do and felt “bullied” (* Yeah – they actually expected him to DO STUFF). He was employed as an engineer assigned to oversee a wastewater treatment plant in the city of Cadiz. He worked for two departments; each assumed the other was overseeing his duties. It wasn’t until the 69-year-old was due to receive an award for his 20th anniversary with the company that it was discovered he had been a no-show for six years, while still receiving his entire $40,400 (€37,000) salary. After Mr. García was exposed, the company took him to court where he was ordered to pay one year of his annual salary back to the company.
* What’s Spanish for DOGE?
* He still earned five years salary, and they fired him and made him not work. Things turned out pretty sweet for Mr. Garcia.
* They should at least make him go in and clear out his 7 million office emails.
* Wow – how gross is that wastewater treatment plant NOW, huh?
* I quit going to work the day I took over this show. I do it out of love! Boss, if you’re listening, I didn’t just say that.

MISSING FISHERMAN FOUND ALIVE AFTER 95 DAYS AT SEA

A Peruvian fisherman who set off for a trip in early December has been found alive and well. Máximo Castro, 61, was missing for 95 days in the Pacific Ocean. A trip that was meant to last two weeks turned into three months when a storm blew him off course 10 days into the trip. Last week, an Ecuadorian patrol boat found Castro on the verge of death in his boat, 680 miles away from land. He had packed enough food to last for two weeks but ran out 14 days before he was found. To stay alive, Castro said he ate birds, cockroaches and turtles. He was found heavily dehydrated and in a critical condition at the time of his rescue. “I did not want to die,” he said. “I had a granddaughter who is a few months old, I held on to her. Every day I thought of my mother.”
* But mostly, he said, “Don’t tell me about White Lotus season three. I want to watch it from the beginning.”
* Every day he thought of his granddaughter and his mother. I bet he was also thinking about a flare gun and a radio.
* He’s also really annoyed he wasn’t rescued by a cruise ship like all those other lost fishermen.
* Birds, cockroaches and turtles. Let’s see… what else could a FISHerman have eaten? Hmmm…quite the puzzler.

TRENDING

ORVILLE PECK TO REMOVE MASK TO APPEAR ON BROADWAY

Country music star Orville Peck will remove his famous mask and show his face when he stars in “Cabaret” on Broadway, beginning March 31. Peck is well-known for donning a mask during performances and interviews. He said, “The mask is part of my expression personally as an artist and a very big personal part of me. But I’m here to play this role and to bring respect and integrity and hopefully a good performance to it. I wouldn’t have necessarily done this for just anything. But this is probably my favorite musical of all time.” Peck and Eva Noblezada will replace Adam Lambert and Auli’i Cravalho (* Not HER again!) as the Emcee and Sally Bowles, respectively.

CONAN TO RETURN TO HOSTING OSCARS AGAIN NEXT YEAR

Conan O’Brien is returning to the Oscars stage in 2026. The late-night host and comedian will preside over the 98th Academy Awards, set for next March 15, the film academy’s leadership said Monday. O’Brien said in a statement, “The only reason I’m hosting the Oscars next year is that I want to hear Adrien Brody finish his speech.”

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

March 20, Thursday – Spring begins, Spring Equinox is 5:01 a.m. EDT
April 1, Tuesday – April Fools Day
April 15, Tuesday – U.S. Tax Day
May 11, Sunday – Mother’s Day
May 26, Monday – Memorial Day

BIRTHDAYS

Blake Garrett Rosenthal (actor, “Mom”) … 21
Adam Levine (singer with Maroon 5) … 46
Philip Sweet (singer with Little Big Town) … 51
Queen Latifah (actress, rapper, “The Equalizer,” real name Dana Elaine Owens) … 55
Vanessa Williams (singer, actress) … 62
Mike Rowe (TV personality, “Dirty Jobs” etc.) … 63

Today’s Birthdays grade: Two big names … Queen Latifah’s been crushing it in the reboot of 80s TV show “The Equalizer,” heading into its fifth season (the original maxed out in four). And Adam Levine’s been crushing it with Maroon 5 since before their 2002 debut album went quadruple platinum. Not bad for a reformed band he started in high school. Grade: B-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!

“I love to see things go boom.”

(A) Vladimir Putin
(B) Kim Jong-un
(C) Queen Latifah

ANSWER: Queen Latifah

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2018 – The first fatal accident involving an Uber self-driving car occurred involving a pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona.
* No stars!

1974 – An oil embargo against the United States was ended by most of the Arab oil-producing countries.
* They decided to make nice-nice after the price tripled.

1965 – The first “spacewalk” took place as Soviet cosmonaut Aleksei Leonov left his Voskhod 2 capsule and remained outside the spacecraft for 20 minutes, secured by a tether.
* Sure, it was scary, but if you were stuck inside a capsule the size of a broom closet, you’d need to get out and stretch, too.

1931 – The first electric razor went on sale.
* Almost a century to get it right and they still leave me with red skin and stubble.

1909 – The first broadcast by a “ham” radio operator is believed to have taken place when Einar Dessau of Denmark used a shortwave transmitter to converse with a government radio post about six miles away.
* For you kids out there, a “ham” radio was kind of like an early CB radio. Uh, and a “CB” radio was kind of like a giant cell phone that you could wire into your car.

1881 – Barnum & Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth opened.
* It was the largest circus ever seen until the O.J. trial came along.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2017 – Rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry died at the age of 90.

2004 – Courtney Love exposed her breasts during an appearance on David Letterman’s TV talk show. The singer, who had her back to the audience, flashed Dave while singing the song Danny Boy. After the show, she went on to perform a surprise gig at the Plaid nightclub in Manhattan where she was alleged to have injured a man by throwing a microphone stand into the crowd. Love was charged with assault and reckless endangerment.

2002 – The Ramones were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Eddie Vedder, lead singer of Pearl Jam and close friend of the Ramones.

1989 – A radio station in California arranged to have all its Cat Stevens records destroyed by having a steamroller run over them in protest of the singer’s support of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeni.

1982 – Driving home from a basketball game in Philadelphia, soul singer Teddy Pendergrass crashed his Rolls Royce, severely injuring his spinal cord and leaving him paralyzed from the chest down.

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. 42% of all U.S. households have one of THESE in the kitchen. What are they?
A pair of chopsticks

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

3. The average American household has two of THESE. What are they?
Couches

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