TUESDAY, May 21 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR TUESDAY, May 21, 2024
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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, or the hundreds of disease awareness listings which occur each year.)

NATIONAL MEMO DAY

NATIONAL STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM DAY

NATIONAL WAITSTAFF DAY
The Holiday Insights website says this:
“National Waiters and Waitresses Day recognizes the value and importance of a good waiter or waitress. When you go out to eat, they represent the restaurant, and are all the difference between a good or a bad experience. You already recognize your waiters and waitresses every time you go to a restaurant. That recognition comes in the form of a tip. The tip should be commensurate with the quality of the service. You can recognize your waiters and waitresses on National Waiters and Waitresses Day by giving them a little something extra. In addition to a generous tip, a card or simple verbal recognition is sufficient. Waiters and waitresses should recognize this day by making sure by providing exemplary service (as always).”

May is:

Chip Your Pet Month / Pet Month
Date Your Mate Month
International Civility Awareness Month
National Barbeque Month
National Bike Month
National Egg Month
National Hamburger Month
National Military Appreciation Month
National Salad Month
National Salsa Month
Older Americans Month

CELEBRITY AND ENTERTAINMENT

GRACELAND COULD BE SOLD AT AUCTION

Elvis Presley’s historic home Graceland could possibly be sold at a foreclosure auction later this week if appeals by surviving family members go unheard. A notice went up this month noting that Graceland and its surrounding areas would be auctioned off to the highest bidder in front of the Shelby County Courthouse on May 23. The company behind the foreclosure, called Naussany Investments and Private Lending, says Elvis’ daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, took out a $3.8 million loan using the property as collateral. They claim Lisa Marie never paid the debt back before her untimely death at the age of 54 in 2023. Lisa Marie’s daughter, RIley Keough ,says that the loan is fake, the signatures are phony and was not executed by her mother. s the Lending company even real? Information about the company online is almost nonexistent and its telephone number was disconnected when local reporters reached out. Keough asked the court for, and was grantes, a temporary restraining order on Monday by a Memphis, Tennessee court to halt the sale.
* Selling Elvis’ house? That’s NOT Alright, Mama.
* MTV could buy it and turn it into a Real World: Memphis party house.

THE BUZZ

IF YOU COULD TALK WITH YOUR DOG

Reddit asked, “If you could have a 10-minute conversation with your pet, what would you discuss?” Some of the responses:
– “I would be letting my two cats give me a performance review.”
– “I would try to convince my dog to savor his food more, it’s not going anywhere.”
– “My dog will go outside, turn and bark at me 3 times, then come back in. I would really like to know what that is about.”
– “I’d ask my cat just exactly what foods he prefers.
– “The litter needs to stay in the box.”
– “9 minutes telling the dog what a good boy he is, followed by one minute explaining to the cats that I am not, in fact, furniture.”
– “I have to trim your toenails so you don’t end up crippled. I am not murdering you.”
– “He doesn’t need to intimidate squirrels in the early hours of the morning.”
– “I talk to my dog about politics all the time.”
– “If you stop barking at strangers and other dogs all of your dreams can come true.”
– “Rent.”
* You know what I’d ask? “Mind if I record this?” I’d make millions.
* How about “Eat anything interesting lately?”
* Which leads to “Listen, pal – about that breath…”
* I’d ask my dog, “How’s life?” You know what he’d say? “Ruff.”
* PHONE TOPIC: What would you ask your pet if you could have a short conversation with them?

THE SEXIEST U.S. ACCENTS

Big 7 Travel and the enjoytravel website just ranked the top 50 sexiest accents in the country. Here are the Top Ten:
1. Texan
2. Bostonian
3. New York
4. Mainer
5. Chicago
6. Mississippi
7. Hawaiian
8. Philadelphia
9. St. Louis
10. Californian
* There are a lot of New York accents. Which block?
* With all that sexiness in the Northeast, there must be a lot of cross-breeding between New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
* Boston – I hate the accent but love the cursing.
* Nothing like a sexy Philadelphia accent: “Ooo, baby, I love youse.”
* So what’s the next step? I’m supposed to go on Craigslist and find an accent coach?

Bottom Five:
46. California Valley
47. Alaskan
48. Minnesotan
49. New Jersey
50. Long Islander
* PHONE TOPIC: Does your partner have a strong accent that you fell in love with?

U.S. NEWS

MAN CAUSES DAMAGE AT THE DMV WITH FISH AND CARROTS

A man was arrested Friday after causing damage at a DMV in Lincoln, Nebraska. Joseph Schrader allegedly walked into the new DMV, which had just opened hours earlier, and started throwing fish and carrots. Somehow, he caused caused an estimated $9,000 in damage, according to police. (* The overestimation police, more like.) The building’s carpet and ceiling tiles sustained most of the damage. Schrader was arrested on suspicion of criminal mischief.
* How much damage can you do with a fish? Was it a holey mackerel?
* He left the place looking pretty crappie.
* The insurance company isn’t paying, they’re calling it an act of cod.

ROBBER STEALS MONEY, FUNYONS

An Indianapolis man has been charged with two counts of robbery after robbing businesses last Friday. 55-year-old Alonzo Sansbury allegedly robbed a Dollar Tree after first attempting to pay with a fake $100 bill and then demanding money from the register. 30 minutes later, he went into a Big Lots where he stole money and a bag of Funyuns. Police tracked down his car. Inside were pieces of clothing that matched the surveillance video and the bag of Funyuns he stole from the Big Lots.
* Stealing Funyons. Not a Wise move.
* He stole them ’cause who in the world would pay money for Funyuns?
* I mean, they’re not onion rings. They’re onion-flavored “extruded corn meal.” Please!
* The judge will give him probation and tell him, “Sir, you are Frito go. ”
* Who goes to Dollar Tree with a $100 bill? “Give me 100 of anything.”

DOG’S STOMACH REVEALS CHEATING HUSBAND

A woman posted a story on Reddit. She’s a 26-year-old veterinarian who wrote: “A puppy arrived very sick, we did an X-ray, found something obstructing, did surgery, and it comes out to be a thong. We put it to the side. The woman owner eventually shows up. We explained what we found and then she says, ‘a thong?! I don’t have a thong! I never had thongs!’, and then called her husband screaming at him. Turns out he’s been cheating on her and it’s his secret mistress’s thong. That was my first day of my job.”
* Imagine the husband searching the house for the missing thong all this time.
* “Where’s that thong, doggone it?” “Yes.”
* The wife’s yelling at him on the phone while he’s trying to give her a thong and dance.
* “I can’t believe the dog got into that! I put it aside for your anniversary present!”
* Guess he’s … in the doghouse.
* This story brought to you by Frank’s Edible Underwear, the underwear that’s safe for people AND pets.

DISNEY TO MAKE NEW RIDE SMELL LIKE FUNNELCAKE

As you may remember, Disney closed down their Splash Mountain ride in Orlando in order to retool it to something fresher. The new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, will be based on “The Princess and the Frog” animated film. Since the movie takes place in New Orleans, and a major plot point has to do with the famous New Orleans beignet pastry, the scent of beignets will be pumped throughout the ride line via an odor disperser called a Smellitzer. The ride opens Friday, June 28. (note: a beignet is just a funnelcake in a different form – fried pancake batter with powdered sugar on it.)
* In case you were wondering if a giant global corporation could jump the shark.
* Hey – Smellitzer – that was my nickname in middle school.
* Is that the same thing they use to make the Haunted Mansion smell like sweaty Floridians?
* After traveling through scenes from the movie and smelling beignets, riders will plunge down a 50-foot chute into hot oil.
* They first tried installing Smellitzers on the Dumbo ride – the scent of elephant farts was shot out the backside of the flying elephant cars.
* Dang – now I want a cinnamon bun.

GIANT CLAMS HAVE DISAPPEARED

The Philippines are blaming Chinese fishermen for a massive loss of giant clams in a disputed fishing area controlled by China. The Philippine coast guard presented surveillance photographs of Chinese fishermen harvesting large numbers of giant clams for a number of years in the Bajo de Masinloc lagoon. (* How shellfish of them.) The surrounding coral appears to be badly scarred due to the Chinese searching for more clams. The Philippines are asking for an international inquiry into the amount of environmental damage in the area. The giant clam is one of the largest mollusks on Earth, capable of reaching 4 feet in length and weighing more than 500 pounds.
* There was a time when I would have said “And their nickname is Jelly Roll,” but he’s been losing weight like crazy. Dammit.
* But they’ve been working out to lose the weight, honestly they have.
* Well, call me shell shocked.
* The Chinese are warning the Philippines to clam up.
* Sure, blame China, but has anyone looked at a Red Lobster warehouse lately? Maybe it wasn’t just their insatiable demand for endless shrimp that drove them out of business.

TRENDING

SCARLETT JOHANSSON THREATENS TO SUE OVER AI VOICE

Actress Scarlett Johansson says she rejected an offer from OpenAI to use her voice as a model for the new ChatGPT system. Then the actress heard the demo released last week. The voice of Sky, she says, is “so eerily similar to mine that my closest friends and news outlets could not tell the difference.” Johansson had voiced an AI unit in the 2013 film “Her”, which is probably why OpenAI used her has a model. Johansson said her lawyers contacted OpenAI to get the voice taken down, and the company announced Monday it’s hitting the brakes on its use of the star’s soundalike while it considers the matter.

STEVE CARELL DOING ANOTHER COMEDY SERIES

Steve Carell has signed to do a new comedy series on Netflix. According to Variety, the still-untitled series will be “set on a college campus, centering on an author’s complicated relationship with his daughter.” Since The Office, Carell has starred in a few more serious shows like “The Patient” (* note: excellent!) and “The Morning Show,” as well as one attempt at comedy called “Space Force.” The series was created by Bill Lawrence, creator of “Scrubs” and “Ted Lasso,” and Matt Tarses, who has worked as a producer on shows like “Scrubs,” “Atypical,” and “The Goldbergs.”

YELLOWSTONE FINALLY STARTS FILMING

Paramount Network has announced that “Yellowstone,” TV’s No. 1 show, has finally started production in Wyoming. The series is slated to return in November for five, maybe six episodes, maybe even ten, according to showrunner Taylor Sheridan. Yellowstone aired it last episode more than a year ago — in January, 2023 — amid Paramount Network deciding to split the season into two parts. Talks of infighting over scheduling and script delays between Costner and Sheridan ensued for many months, with Costner also focusing on his epic Western film “Horizon: An American Saga,” which getting awful reviews from critics at Cannes. The cast and crew had been planning to resume filming in March 2023 with an announced summer premiere date, but those dates came and went.

ZACH BRYAN AND GIRLFRIEND IN CAR CRASH

Zach Bryan and his girlfriend, Brianna LaPaglia (better known as Brianna Chickenfry), got into a big car crash last week. Brianna wrote, “Two nights ago, Zach and I got into a traumatizing side-by-side crash. It flipped a bunch of times, everything shattered and thank God we had our seat belts on. But there was a lot of blood and we thought we were saying goodbye to each other.” She said the couple were not severely injured after the crash. “After the ambulance came, he got all stitched up we were like, ‘Oh my god, thank God. It didn’t hit an artery, it was just a huge gash.’ We were okay. We are happy and alive,” she said.

ALMANAC

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

May 27, Monday – Memorial Day
June 14, Friday – Flag Day
June 16, Sunday – Father’s Day
June 20, Thursday – Summer begins (The June solstice occurs at 4:50 P.M. EST)

BIRTHDAYS

Sarah Ramos (actress, “Midnight, Texas”, “Parenthood”) … 33
Fairuza Balk (actress, “Ray Donovan”, “The Waterboy”, “The Craft”) … 50
Lisa Edelstein (actress, “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce”, “House”) … 58
Mr. T (actor, played B.A. Baracus, “The A-Team”, born Lawrence Tureaud) … 72
Al Franken (disgraced U.S. Senator, comedian, radio personality, author, dumbass) … 73
Leo Sayer (singer, “You Make Me Feel Like Dancin'”) … 76

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

“I’m not perfect, I’m not an angel, but I try to live a certain way because it brings honor and respect to my mother.”

(A) Bill Cosby
(B) Harvey Weinstein
(C) Mr. T

ANSWER: (C) Mr. T

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

2019 – Washington is the first U.S. state to legalize human composting.
* So much for knowing where the bodies are buried.

1927 – Charles Lindbergh landed in France after becoming the first person to fly across the Atlantic Ocean.
* The hero’s welcome that “Lucky Lindy” received marks the last time the French WEREN’T rude to an American.

1908 – The first horror movie, “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde,” premiered in Chicago, frightening many in the audience.
* But that was nothing compared to the prices at the concession stand.

1881 – Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross.
* The easiest part was coming up with a logo.

1851 – Gold was discovered in Australia.
* Prospectors were overjoyed to discover gold down under “Down Under.”

1819 – The first bicycles in the U.S. were introduced in New York City.
* Where they’re known today as “targets.”

1804 – The famous Lewis & Clark Expedition began.
* Clark called shotgun.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2023 – Rock band Foo Fighters introduce new drummer Josh Freese in a live stream event promoting new album and tour.

2016 – Nick Menza, a former drummer in heavy metal band Megadeth, died after suffering a “massive heart attack” on stage, while performing with his band, OHM, in Los Angeles.

2010 – U2’s lead singer Bono, 50, had emergency spinal surgery after suffering an injury while preparing for tour dates.

2008 – Lou Pearlman, the music mogul who created the Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison over a decades-long scam that swindled thousands of investors out of their life savings.

1995 – Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt was arrested for drunk driving. When police later searched his car, they found about $150 worth of cocaine inside.

1980 – Joe Strummer of The Clash was arrested at a Hamburg, West Germany, show after smashing his guitar over the head of an audience member.

1979 – Elton John became the first Western pop star to appear in the Soviet Union, when he did a sell-out gig in Leningrad.

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. A recent study found that THESE are 48% smaller for a woman than for a man. What are they?
Pants pockets

2. In a recent survey, the most common type of dream reported by men was dreaming about falling. THIS was the most common type of dream reported by women. What is it?
Dreams about traveling

3. According to a recent medical study, THIS is a more risky activity for men than women. What is it?
Shoveling snow

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