WEDNESDAY, Jan 17 – DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION

MORNING SIDEKICK DAILY PREP TEXT VERSION FOR WEDNESDAY, January 17, 2024
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COMEDY MP3s POSTED ON OUR PREP SITE FOR TODAY: A & M AUTOLAND – Espresso Bar

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.)

BEN FRANKLIN’S BIRTHDAY / KID INVENTORS’ DAY
The Kid Inventors Day website says Benjamin Franklin invented the first swim flippers at age 12.

CABLE CAR DAY
The Days Of The Year website says this:
“In early 1871 British-born, U.S. resident Andrew Smith Hallidie received the first patent in relation to the cable car, an occasion which is marked by Cable Car Day. Hallidie’s design for cable-propelled transit emerged when he witnessed horses falling, and even dying, while attempting to pull cars up San Fransisco’s steep Jackson Street. Two years after receiving his cable car patent, Hallidie set up the world’s first cable car rail road on Clay Street.”

DITCH NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS DAY
The Time And Date Website says this:
“You have done well for the past couple of weeks. You have stuck to your New Year’s resolutions. But are now ready to give them up. You are busy, you took on too much, that piece of cake just looks so darn good to ignore. Whatever your reason to break your New Year resolutions, you can do it guilt-free on Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day.”

HOT-BUTTERED RUM DAY

MUSEUM SELFIE DAY (the third Wednesday in January)

NATIONAL BOOTLEGGERS DAY
The National Day Calendar website says this:
“January 17 is the birthday of Templeton Rye Whiskey. When Prohibition outlawed the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages on January 17, 1920, many enterprising residents of a small town in Iowa chose to become outlaws – producing a high-caliber and much sought-after whiskey known as Templeton Rye. Templeton Rye became Al Capone’s whiskey of choice, quickly finding its way to the center of his bootlegging empire. January 17 is not only the birthday of Templeton Rye, but it’s also the birthday of Al Capone. The earliest use of the term ‘bootlegger’ was during the 1880s in the Midwest, when one would conceal flasks of liquor in their boot tops when going to trade with Native Americans.”

POPEYE DAY
The Mental Floss website says this:
“On January 17, 1929, Popeye made his first appearance in E.C. Segar’s comic strip Thimble Theater, and the spinach-eating sailor with the oversized forearms and corncob pipe would not only go on to become the strip’s most popular character, but also see his star rise to the uppermost levels of comics royalty in the years that followed. Considered by many to be one of the greatest comics—and cartoon—characters of all time, Popeye was an unexpected success for Segar and the publishers of Thimble Theatre, and he went on to spawn a wildly popular animated series, multiple iterations of comic strips, and even a live-action film.”

January is:

Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
Be Kind to Food Servers Month
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
Financial Wellness Month
Get Organized Month
National Candy Month
National Clean Up Your Computer Month
National Hobby Month
National Skating Month
National Train Your Dog Month
Walk Your Pet Month

THE BUZZ

UNEXPECTEDLY GREAT DECISIONS

Reddit asks, “What’s your most unexpectedly great decision made on a whim?” Some of the answers:
– “I randomly took a route to pick my daughter up from school that I never usually take. I saw a puppy in a ditch looking starved and very scared. Put him in the car, picked up my daughter, and went to the vet’s. After being declared healthy, but malnourished, I brought him home, and he has become the best pet ever!”
– “Saved about $1000 this year by booking an Airbnb cabin in the mountains from Jan 2-7 instead of Jan 1-6.”
– “I was hanging around in a university waiting for my brother to finish a group project. I was 18, unemployed. Randomly decided to apply for several jobs in my industry that I wasn’t totally qualified for, just because I was bored. Two hours later I got a call from a recruiter, 2 days later I got a job.”
– “Going to Costco during the Super Bowl.”
– “Got up one day and decided I wanted to go on a run. Only made it like a quarter mile, but I felt good and decided to do it again the next day. Started wondering if I could go for longer without stopping, set a goal for the next few runs. Snowballed from there. I ran a marathon on Sunday and I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been.”
– “Once, on a whim, I decided to try eating dessert before dinner. It turned out to be a life-changing decision.”
* PHONE TOPIC: What have you done on a whim and had it turn out great?

U.S. NEWS

FLORIDA WOMAN TRIED TO SUBMIT DOG PEE FOR URINE TEST

In Clearwater, Florida, a woman tried to submit dog urine in an attempt to cheat a court-ordered drug screening. Jessica Beatty, 42, was subject to random testing due to a previous arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia. Beatty had an appointment for a urine test last week. Concerned that her urine would turn up dirty, she showed up with a “fraudulent urine sample.” When asked about it, Beatty admitted that she got it from her aunt’s dog. Beatty was charged with urine testing fraudulent practices, a misdemeanor.
* “The good news is you’re drug-free. The bad news is you have kennel cough.”
* As punishment, she will be wormed.
* Well, did the dog at least come up clean?
* Instead of her aunt’s dog, she should have got the urine from her aunt.
* The dog’s thinking, “I’m used to them collecting my poop, but THIS is new!”
* If only there was something she could have done to keep drugs out of her urine. Like NOT USING THEM.

MAN CHARGED WITH SPRAY-PAINTING SQUIRRELS

A man in Patterson, New York, has been charged with spray-painting squirrels. Mark Kuhn, 62, told authorities he didn’t want the squirrels in his backyard because they made his dogs bark, and he felt by spray-painting them they wouldn’t come back. He would trap them in cages and spray them with red Rust-Oleum Paint and Primer before releasing them about a quarter-mile away. The spray paint was so he’d be able to tell if it’s the same squirrels coming back. Kuhn was charged with attempting to poison animals.
* … which would have killed them instantly, and no one would have known. Oh, Mark, Mark …
* Caught red-fingered!
* On squirrels, you gotta use the primer for a smooth, even coat.
* Meanwhile, the squirrels are thinking: “You idiot! We’re Summers! Red is not our color!!”
* Time to buy some hawks.

WALMART DRONES MOSTLY DELIVERS SNACK CHIPS

Walmart has tested the concept of drone drops over the past two years, and the company says it has made over 20,000 successful deliveries. 30 stores now offer aerial delivery service. The most common thing ordered for drone delivery: snacks and beverages. The company’s drones are capable of carrying just under three pounds of goods, traveling up to 65 miles an hour. That’s about three party-size bags of Doritos, which cost around $6 a bag. The drone delivery fee is $3.99.
* But what price being a forgetful idiot, right? Well, ten dollars. That would be the price.
* Do you realize the technology that has gone into creating robot drones, connecting to a satellite GPS system, clearing flight paths and years and years of testing, all to bring you a bag of corn chips you lazy slobs?
* Sadly, it’s heavy snack eaters who should be jogging or riding a bike to Walmart for their chips.
* And you’re damn right I want some Doritos right now! Somebody text Walmart.
* It’s more reliable than Boeing right now, that’s for sure.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

BOY BITTEN BY SHARK IN TOURIST “SHARK ENCOUNTER”

A 10-year-old boy from Maryland was bitten by a shark Monday while participating in an excursion at a tourist resort in the Bahamas. The boy’s right leg was attacked during a shark tank “expedition” at a local resort on Paradise Island. Police did not identify the resort where the incident happened, but it might be assumed it was at the sprawling Atlantis Paradise Island hotel complex, which offers an hour-long “Walking with Sharks” experience for children 10 and up. Says the website: “Using state-of-the-art clear-glass helmets, guests can explore an underwater sea safari as they walk on the bottom of the Mayan Temple Shark Lagoon to see Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks up close.” There was no information on the type of shark that bit him. The boy was then taken to a hospital in stable condition to be treated for his injuries.
* Well… shark encountered, I guess.
* “Walking with Sharks”? They should change the the name of the experience to “Running From Sharks.”
* It’s “Shark Tank” on steroids.
* State-of-the-art clear-glass helmets? They need to make them bigger to fit over your entire body.
* Maybe switch to animatronic sharks in a large pool.
* Great idea – hold regular excursions so all the sharks learn where and when humans will be in the water.
* So the kid ends up with a good story. And maybe a cane. And definitely settlement money.

WORLD’S OLDEST DOG MAY NOT BE

The world’s “oldest ever dog” Bobi, who died last October reportedly aged 31, has temporarily lost his title as Guinness World Records investigates his age. Bobi’s age had initially been confirmed by the Veterinary Medical Service of Leiria, Portugal, which said he had been registered in 1992. This was verified by SIAC, a Portuguese government-authorized pet database. However, suspicions began to emerge soon after Bobi’s death regarding the evidence that reportedly proved his true age. The Guinness people are now seeking new evidence, reaching out to experts and those linked to the original application. Bobi’s owner Leonel Costa said he was 8 years old when his dog was born in 1992. He was a purebred Rafeiro do Alentejo – a breed of livestock guardian dog – which have a life expectancy of about 12-14 years.
* They first became suspicious when a neighbor came forward claiming they had taught old Bobi a new trick.
* Looks like the birther movement has hit Portugal.
* Something smells about this story, but, as usual, Leonel blamed it on the dog.
* Maybe it’ll turn out the dog lied about his age to get into the service.
* Must we kibble over this? I mean quibble?

TRENDING

KANE BROWN GAVE WORKERS A RIDE HOME

Country star Kane Brown gave some gas station employees a ride home in a Nashville snowstorm. The city got 9 inches of snow. Brown’s wife, Katelyn, Instagrammed: “Kane went to the gas station this morning and has been seeing people working. So, he’s giving them rides home from work. He gave them his number and told them to call whenever they got off work, and he would give them rides home. Kane is like the Uber driver of Nashville,” she joked.

DARRYL WORLEY LOSES BAR TO FIRE

Country star Darryl Worley lost a barn on his Tennessee property to fire. In a Tuesday social media post, the country singer-songwriter shared a picture of the surprise fire in the middle of a snowstorm, writing, “Well, me and Kimberly are sitting here watching the barn go up in flames. I guess it’s true, that’s what happens in the cold a lot of times. It’s just sad. We had a lot of stuff in there. A lot of memories and it’s all falling in now.”

NOTABLE DATES, UPCOMING U.S. OBSERVANCES

January 26, Friday – Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day (UN)
February 2, Friday – Groundhog Day
February 10, Saturday – Chinese New Year (The Year of the Dragon)
February 12, Monday – Lincoln’s Birthday
February 14, Wednesday – Valentine’s Day
February 19, Monday – Presidents Day / Washington’s Birthday
February 13, Tuesday – Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras
March 10, Sunday – Daylight Saving Time Begins
March 17, Sunday – St. Patrick’s Day
March 19, Tuesday – Spring begins, Spring Equinox is 11:06 p.m. EDT
March 20, Wednesday – First full day of Spring

BIRTHDAYS

Zooey Deschanel (actress, Bridget in “Trolls” movies, “New Girl”) … 44
Kid Rock (rapper, real name Robert James Ritchie) … 53
Michelle Obama (former First Lady) … 60
Jim Carrey (actor) … 62
Susanna Hoffs (singer with The Bangles) … 65
Steve Harvey (TV host, actor, author, businessman, former stand-up comedian) … 67
Maury Povich (talk show host) … 85
James Earl Jones (actor, original voice of Darth Vader) … 93

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

“I need a people fix every once in a while. I need mass audience. I need them all staring at me and completely transfixed. Everybody must be glued to me every moment.”

(A) Kanye West
(B) Madonna
(C) Jim Carrey

ANSWER: (C) Jim Carrey

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1997 – A court in Ireland granted the first divorce in the Roman Catholic country’s history.
* A-a-a-a-a-nd THEY’RE OFF!

1929 – Cartoon character “Popeye” made his first appearance, in the comic strip “Thimble Theater.”
* Kids everywhere chowed down on spinach so the neighborhood bully wouldn’t beat them up, and promptly got the crap knocked out of them.

1871 – The cable car was invented. It’s pulled along by a cable which is powered by a motor.
* Which, coincidentally, is also how they work Anna Nicole.

1861 – The flush toilet was patented by Mr. Thomas Crapper.
* Of all the 19th century inventions, this one was voted #1 and #2.

THIS DAY IN MUSIC HISTORY

2020 – Wiggles founding member Greg Page (Yellow Wiggle) suffered a cardiac arrest at a Wiggles reunion show that was raising funds for Australian bushfire relief efforts. He collapsed on stage and stopped breathing; off-duty nurse Grace Jones, who was in the audience, performed CPR with Wiggles drummer Steve Pace and band staff member Kimmy Antonelli, and used a defibrillator three times before Page was transported to a hospital. The cardiac arrest was caused by a blocked artery, which was treated, and Page recovered.

2003 – A long-lost recording featuring John Lennon and Mick Jagger was set to spark a biding war at a London auction. The acetate record was recorded in 1974 with Jagger singing the blues song “Too Many Cooks” and Lennon playing guitar. The track had never been released because the two artists were both signed to different record companies.

2003 – Singer Lou Rawls was arrested at Albuquerque Airport, New Mexico after a incident with his companion, Nina Inman. Officers reported that she and Rawls had been talking about their relationship when the conversation escalated into a shoving match resulting in Rawls being booked on one count of battery on a household member.

1994 – Donny Osmond took part in a charity boxing match held in Chicago against former Partridge Family member Danny Bonaduce. Donny lost 2-1.

1976 – Barry Manilow scored his second U.S. No.1 single with “I Write The Songs” written by Beach Boy Bruce Johnson.

1974 – Dean Martin’s son Dino Martin was arrested after attempting to sell two AK-47 machine guns to an undercover agent.

1972 – A section of Highway 51 South in Memphis was renamed Elvis Presley Boulevard.

1967 – Britain’s Daily Mail ran a story about a local council survey finding 4,000 holes in the road in Lancashire – inspiring John Lennon’s contribution to The Beatles song “A Day In The Life.”

1966 – NBC-TV bought The Monkees series, placing it on their 1966 autumn schedule.

1963 – Appearing at The Marquee Club, London were the Cyril Davies All Stars, The Velvets and, bottom of the bill, The Rolling Stones. Tickets cost 4 shillings, or 56 cents.

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. Every year, we spend over $750 million dollars on THIS. What is it?
Shoelaces

2. The average American home spends close to $140 a year on THIS. What is it?
Toilet paper

3. 30% of people surveyed said they would be willing to pay $100 for THIS. What is it?
More sleep

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