PrepForOne

03.17.10: TODAY IS...

-St. Patrick's Day! It's not known if today is St. Patrick's birth or death. Some claim it's both. What we do know is St. Patrick founded 165 churches and started a school with each one. He's widely regarded as the patron saint of Ireland.

POP QUIZ: Name the famous actors from Ireland:

ANSWER: Collin Farrell as "Stu" in the movie "Phone Booth"

ANSWER: Pierce Brosnan as "James Bond"

ANSWER: Liam Neeson in "Batman Begins"

IN SEARCH OF

What folks are searchin' for this morning

"greyhound bus" - Police don't know why, but a bus driver was kicked in the head by a passenger sending the bus through a fence and several people to the hospital. The bus was traveling on I70 about 160 miles south of Salt Lake City when a passenger attacked the driver. The driver and several passengers were treated for minor injuries, the attacker took off but was later found hiding in the rafters of a garage.


"california earthquake" - A 4.4 magnitude earthquake hit Southern California yesterday scaring residents, but no injuries were reported.


"masters" - The big announcement came from Tiger Woods yesterday where he's decided to reenter the PGA tour. He'll play in the Masters beginning April 8th. He says the Masters is important because it was one of the first major tournaments that he ever won. Others think he picked the event because of its limited access by the media. Either way, are you happy to see him return?


"corned beef in slow cooker" - What an appropriate search for today. Folks want corned beef and cabbage slowly cooking on St. Pat's day. Here's a recipe from food.gather.com

Corned Beef and Cabbage Crock Pot Chowder Recipe:

1 cup diced cooked corned beef
1 cup diced cooked carrots
2 cups diced cooked potatoes
1 cup diced cooked cabbage
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup beef or chicken broth
1 can cream of mushroom soup
2 cups half and half or whole milk
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients except half and half in crock pot or slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 5 hours.

Add half and half and pepper. Cover and continue cooking 20 minutes. Thin with additional half and half or milk, if desired. Serves 6.

PHONE BUZZ

Light 'em up!


What do you wish would've never been invented?
Here's another study about how video games are no good for kids. It turns out, if you believe the study, video games can hurt academic development in young boys. Boys that hammer away at PlayStation II were slower to pick up reading and writing skills, say the experts. This is another study that has concluded video games and kids don't mix. Of course, if a kid does nothing but play video games, it's bound to interfere with life. But it brings up an interesting question -- would our kids be smarter if video games were never invented? What about for adults -- would you be more productive if the whole concept of Facebook didn't exist? Think of a world without an iPhone or Blackberry... what do you wish would have never been invented?
source


Anyone still play good 'ol fashion board games anymore? What's your favorite?
Love this list of the "10 kid's board games still totally worth playing". I think many of the games on this list don't qualify as "kid's games," but they're still worth playing. Here's what this website put together:

10 Payday
9 Yahtzee
8 Battleship
7 Candyland (drinking game)
6 Monopoly
5 Boggle
4 Backgammon
3 Risk
2 Scrabble
1 Clue

What game is dangerous for you to play as a family -- "nothing good ever comes from playing (what) together."

FACEBUZZ

Post this! "Give me an Irish toast!"

CELEBRITY TWEETS

Kirstie Alley was not happy with her appearance on the Today Show yesterday. She felt "blindsided" by questions that associated her weight loss plan with Scientology. Organic Liaison shares the same address that houses Scientology offices in Clearwater, FL. "Well, it's such (b.s.)," she said. Can I say that?"


Afterwards, Alley tweeted: "Good morning!!!! Just experienced the meaning of BLINDSIDED.....delivered with a smile.... Shame on you Today Show...Shame on you"


The Wendy Williams show has somehow been renewed through 2012.


Corey Haim was laid to rest yesterday in Thornhill, Ontario. An attendee told the Toronto Star that the service was "very sad but with a lot of laughter." 200 attended the private ceremony for family and friends - except one - Corey Feldman. "That's crap," reacted Jennifer Matton, a fan that traveled 8 hours to be close to the funeral.
More here


How cool would it be to see Johnny Depp in a movie version of "21 Jump Street." He starred in the TV version back in the 80's, and has hinted that he might be interested.
source

How about a "21 Jump Street" flashback?





"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh," screamed 4-million tweens as Justin Bieber announced a 40-city tour that kicks off in Hartford, Conn, on June 23rd. Get all the tour dates on his dreamy website.


Speaking of tours - look for the Dixie Chicks to hit the stage, the first time in 4-years. They've agreed to tour with The Eagles and Keith Urban. Search LiveNation.com for tour dates.


GQ is defending themselves against allegations they took advantage of poor Rielle Hunter during her photo shoot. Rielle cried to Barbara Walters that she didn't know the photos would look that provocative. GQ reporter Lisa DePaulo told Good Morning America, "Rielle is a smart woman. She knows what she wore and what she was doing in the photo shoot."


CUTTIN' CAKE TODAY
-Rob Lowe is 46
-Patrick Duffy turns 61
-Kurt Russell is 59
-Gary Sinise is 55


BIRTHDAY QUIZ: Our birthday boy turns 46 today. Think "Tommy Boy"

ANSWER: Rob Lowe!


PRIMETIME, BABY!
NBC: Mercy (NEW), Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: SVU (NEW)
ABC: Scrubs (NEW), The Middle, Modern Family, Cougar Town, Ugly Betty (NEW)
CBS: The New Adventures of Old Christine, Gary Unmarried (NEW), Criminal Minds, CSI: NY
FOX: Human Target (NEW), American Idol (LIVE)
CW: America's Next Top Model (NEW), High Society (NEW)

FUN STUFF

GADGET OF THE DAY
Don't have time to actually sip a cup of coffee, but need a kick? Inhale one -- literally. Le Whif has made a portable coffee inhaler that delivers 100 milligrams of caffeine which is equivalent to a cup of espresso. Could this be the next idea for Starbucks? Everyone sits around a table and inhales? Something a little creepy about all this.
More here



GOTTA SEE THIS
Author Bill Geerhart is well known for his alter ego "Little Billy" who writes letters to well known people. He's written, and received responses from figures like Justice Clarence Thomas, Oprah, Tori Spelling and Charles Manson.



Now's he's taking on Tiger Woods. Check out the letter here




DID YOU KNOW?
Happy St. Patrick's Day... out this morning - a new survey on drinking in America:

"While 61.2 percent of adults are current drinkers, nearly a quarter said they were lifetime abstainers. About 14 percent were former drinkers and around 5 percent were classified as heavy drinkers."
More here



JOKE OF THE DAY
Four leaders of the big beer companies meet for a drink. The president of Budweiser orders a Bud. Miller's president orders a Millers and the president of Coors orders a Coors. When it is time for the president of Guinness to order, he gets a soda. Why didn't you order a Guinness everyone asks? Nah, he replies. If you guys aren't having a beer neither will I.


SURF THIS!
Need an Irish toast for today? Click here