Showing posts with label free prep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free prep. Show all posts

Radio Prep, Now Gluten Free!

Hope you had a great weekend. It was another crazy one for me full of soccer games and station appearances. The highlight of my weekend was a charity ball I attended for the local children's museum. I had no idea my wife and I sat on the planning board. I don't remember planning a thing, but if I did, I sure did a great job because it was fun.

I had a morning show visit and station tour up for auction, and as I'm sure you can relate, it's hard not to keep checking the latest bid. This ball used electronic bidding devices that you carry around (like an iPhone), so I could obsessively check the latest bid from anywhere. I was half tempted to throw some money at myself, but decided against it after imagining how awkward the tour would be. At the end of the night, I'm proud to report that my show got the highest bid out of all the media options (including TV)! And you'll just have to trust when I say that I wasn't the winning bidder (but it was tempting)!

Two things for tomorrow: No updated prep will occupy this space. Taking tomorrow off for a project I need to work on. BUT! I will have a cool article to read about sleep, and why that word means nothing to radio personalities. I'll have some quick tips to help wake you up, too! Have a great show! Enjoy the prep!




Cuttin' Cake
  • Cloris Leachman (86)
  • Willie Nelson (79)
  • Kirsten Dunst (30 Bring It On)

***Today is National Honest Day (Celebrate and risk being fired)***
***National Oatmeal Cookie Day "COOOOKIE!" (Really? Does the oatmeal cookie deserve it's own day? What's the best cookie? What cookie deserves it's own MONTH rather than just a day?)***


Pop Quiz 1: Movie Monday 1

"Think Like a Man" stayed strong at #1 over the weekend, beating out a bunch of newbies including Jason Segel's "The Five-Year Engagement." Here are the top five:
  1. Think Like a Man
  2. The Pirates! Band of Misfits
  3. The Lucky One
  4. The Hungar Games
  5. The Five Year Engagement

None of this matters next weekend, because the Avengers opens with Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemwsowrth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samual L Jackson, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Paul Bettany.

Can you name the #1 movie 20 years ago today?

HINT

Answer: Basic Instinct (Michael Douglas/Sharon Stone)


Pop Quiz 2: Movie Monday

Robert Downey, Jr, is back in Avengers, opening this weekend, so in his honor, can you name Robert Downey Jr movie that featured this song?

Play

Hint: 1987

Answer: Less Than Zero (Robert Downey, Jr, Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz, James Spader)


Primetime, Baby!

ABC: Dancing With the Stars (NEW), Castle (NEW)
CBS: How I Met Your Mother (NEW), 2 Broke Girls (NEW), Two and a Half Men (NEW), Mike and Molly (NEW), Hawaii Five-0 (NEW)
NBC: The Voice (LIVE/ Semi Final Performances), Smash (NEW)
FOX: Bones (NEW), House (NEW)
CW: Gossip Girl (NEW), Hart of Dixie (NEW)


Joke of the Day

A businessman dragged himself home and barely made it to his chair before he dropped exhausted.

His sympathetic wife was right there with a tall cool drink and a comforting word. "My, you look tired," she said. "You must have had a hard day today. What happened to make you so exhausted?"

"It was terrible," her husband said. "The computer broke down and all of us had to do our own thinking." Drop: Laugh




10 Ways To Find Happiness


I thought Bobby McFerrin had the best solution -- "Don't worry...be happy." (PLAY) That's it. Just stop worrying. You may be the kind of person that requires a little more detail, so here are 10 tips to finding happiness from Dr. Barton Goldsmith.


  1. Be with others who make you smile (Studies prove we're happier around those that are also happy)
  2. Hold on to your values (What you find true, what you know is fair, and what you believe in -- never let those go)
  3. Accept the good (take stock of what's working in your life!)
  4. Imagine the best (vision yourself getting what you really want)
  5. Do things you love
  6. Find purpose (find a way of contributing to the well-being of humanity. People tend to find great pride in that)
  7. Listen to your heart (keep your day job for the time being, but follow your passions)
  8. Push yourself, not others (Stop blaming others and you'll find your answers much sooner)
  9. Be open to change (change happens, so emotionally shore yourself up for the experience)
  10. Bask in the simple pleasures (silly jokes, warm days, starry nights)

Source




How to Live to 100


If you're looking to annoy your kids for years and years to come, there is a way, and researchers think they have figured it out. Scientists in Sicily studied people living in five villages in the island's Sicani Mountains region where there are four times as many people living over 100 than the national average. Here's what they all had in common...

  • A healthy "Mediterranean-style" diet with high amounts of fruits and veggies, and low levels of saturated fat.
  • They eat a lot of seasonal plant food
  • They eat low levels of meat
  • They consume low levels of refined carbohydrates, meaning white bread and pasta.
  • They say no to sweeteners and sweet beverages, canned food, frozen ready-prepared veggies, biscuits, cakes, and snacks.

What it boils down to is this: Follow a diet with low levels of saturated fat and high levels of fruits and veggies rich in phytochemicals. These are cancer killers and heart protectors.

Source




Parking Excuses


A British study found that, like Americans, we'll do anything to get out of a parking ticket, even though we don't really think parking violations count as breaking the law. 1 in 12 drivers have talked themselves out of a parking ticket, even though a full 15% regularly park illegally because it's easier to pay the fine than to park elsewhere.

Here are the top 5 excuses given for avoiding a parking fine:

1. The regulations were not clear (9%)
2. I was only gone briefly (6%)
3. I was looking for a place to buy a ticket (5%)
4. I had a personal emergency (4%)
5. My ticket went missing (3%)




8 Things That Will Tick Off the Bride!


We all have a wedding on our calendar over the next three months, right? So these rules are for us. From DivineCaroline.com, here are 8 sure-fire ways to awaken a bridezilla -- translation: Make the bride lose her sanity:
  1. RSVP late, or not at all. Especially don't RSVP the day before then decide not to come. If you do, avoid contact with her for the rest of your life.
  2. Mess with the seating chart. Keep your mouth shut and deal with the jerk you're sitting next to.
  3. Invite another person. Unless you're given a plus-one, don't bring someone
  4. Complain about something
  5. Dine and ditch. If you only have 30 minutes for the reception, just skip it.
  6. Forgo a gift. Keep in mind that the average wedding spends about $80 on each guest.
  7. Forget to check the gift registry. If you go off the gift radar, make sure it is truely a one-of-a-kind.  Getting them a toaster or blender when they've already registered for one is just annoying.
  8. Cause a scene. She'll notice if you get drunk. 'Nuff said.

Phones/Facebook: C'mon former brides, they're surely missing something from this list... what?

This and That


Facebook is SO 2011. Teenagers are now starting to migrate from Facebook to Twitter. Reason? Because we followed them to Facebook and now they want some privacy. Last July, 16% of teens report using Twitter, that's up from 8% the year before. "I love Twitter, it's the only thing I have to myself...cause my parents don't have one," reported one 17-year old. Source


Interesting:  If a kid has a supportive mom, the kid has a bigger brain! Scientists conducted an experiment placing moms and their small children in a room with a gift wrapped box. The kids couldn't open the box for 5-minutes. Some moms were supportive - helping their children through the long 5-minute wait, others just ignored their kids. After scanning the kid's brains and then waiting four years, researchers discovered the hippocampus was 9.2% SMALLER in those who go the least support from their moms! Holy cow! Conclusion: A mother's love physically affects the volume of her child's hippcampus. Source


$118.80: What the average American iwll spend hosting a Super Bowl party on Sunday. Interesting that though both teams are from the Northeast, fans in the South will spend the most on parties -- an average of $128. Source


Hmmmmm.... does this fly with you? A study out of the Journal of Marriage and Family discovered that cohabitating couples are happier than married ones. Married couples' health improved, but unmarried couples living together experienced bigger boosts in happiness and self-esteem. The lead author thinks this may be due to "fewer unwanted obligations" for unmarried couples which allows for "more flexibility, autonomy and personal growth." Buy that? Source


Most Desirable Woman of 2012


Courtesy of AskMen.com

10. Candice Swanepoel (Victoria's Secret model)
9. Rihanna
8. Kim Kardashian
7. Scarlett Johansson
6. Emma Stone
5. Nicki Manaj
4. Miranda Kerr
3. Rooney Mara (Oscar nomination for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo")
2. Kate Upton
1. Sofia Vergara ("Modern Family" )

The biggest jump this year belonged to Lea Michele from "Glee," who went up 72 spots from last year and now ranks No. 19.

Full list here


7 Things Woman Want...


...for Valentine's Day. Yes, 12 days away and here come the lists. The female friendly website, YourTango.com, put together their list of wants. Here are 7:

Christina Caged Sparkle Minaudiere ($39.95 It's a gold clutch, guys... a small purse if you don't get the "clutch" part)

Rainbow Moonstone Earrings ($38)

Gold Wire Love Ring ($12.99)

Brulee Elle Teddy In Blush With Cream ($178)

Locals Flip Flops ($6.95 You may want to double this up with something else -- like the gold wire love ring)

Indian Cooking Classes (Usually around $50 and up)

Couple Time (Priceless... awwwwwe!)


Cuttin' Cake


Duane "Dog" Chapman (59)
Christie Brinkley (58 "Vacation" )
Rich Sommer (Harry Crane on Mad Men 34 )


Primetime, Baby!


CBS: The Big Bang Theory (NEW), Rob (NEW), Person of Interest (NEW), The Mentalist (NEW)
ABC: Wipeout (NEW), Grey's Anatomy (NEW), Private Practice (NEW)
NBC: 30 Rock (NEW), Parks and Rec (NEW), The Office (NEW), Up All Night (NEW), The Firm (NEW)
FOX: American Idol (NEW), THe Finder (NEW)
CW: The Vampire Diaries (NEW), The Secret Circle (NEW)


Joke of the Day


Visiting a seriously ill lawyer in the hospital, his friend found him sitting up in bed, anxiously leafing through the Bible.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

Without looking up the lawyer replied: “Looking for loopholes,”


Surf This


Here's a way to send free text messages straight from your computer. TextPort.com doesn't even ask for your real information. In fact, they'll give you a virtual mobile number so you can send messages without people calling you back. Neato.

This and That

The Houston Chronicle and E! News are reporting that Beyonce had a baby girl named Blue Ivy Carter. This is the first child for Beyonce and her hubby Jay-Z. The new parents apparently have their own floor at Lenox Hospital in New York and checked in under the name "Ingrid Jackson."

Is Rihanna confirming the news? A clue from Twitter...



"NO ONE speaks for me," Tweeted Katy Perry over the weekend. She's telling her fans not to believe everything they read concerning her divorce from Russell Brand.



New Hampshire's Secretary of State expects 250-thousand ballots will be cast tomorrow in the first-in-the-nation primary. Yes, that's more than 2008.

Are you suffering from feedback fatigue? Feedback fatigue is caused by too many email requests from companies asking you to rate their service. If you did any holiday shopping online, you're likely getting bombarded.



Would you pay even more to see a movie? The Hollywood Reporter cites several analysts who predict the price of a movie ticket will go up this year.

Primetime, Baby!



Look out for the BCS Nat'l Championship game featuring the LSU and Alabama. Kickoff is 8:30pm from the Superdome in New Orleans

ABC: The Bachelor (NEW), Castle (NEW)
CBS: How I Met Your Mother, 2 Broke Girls, Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly, Hawaii Five-O
NBC: Who's Still Standing? (NEW), Fear Factor (NEW), Rock Center with Brian Williams (NEW)
FOX: House
CW: Gossip Girl, Hart of Dixie

Cuttin' Cake

  • Dick Engberg (77)
  • Dave Matthews (45)
  • J.K. Simmons (57)
Today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day!

Gotta See This

In today's "Gotta See This," it's a woman riding a really tall unicycle. And balancing bowls on her head. And on her feet, too...and then she... ARE YOU SERIOUS??? Watch!



Joke of the Day

It was her birthday, so Cindy took a long afternoon nap.

After she woke up, she said to her husband, "I just dreamed that you gave me a diamond ring for a birthday present. What do you think it all means?"

"You'll know tonight," her husband replied, smiling broadly.

Later that night after a romantic dinner, Cindy's husband handed her a small package.

Delighted and excited she opened it quickly. There in her hand rested a book entitled: The Meaning of Dreams.


Surf This!

Has your company blocked access to Hulu? Fear not, my fellow TV Junkie, there's always...



TvRecaps.com!
How About That...

Scientist have discovered that flushing toilets spray diarrhea-causing bacteria up to 10-inches above and around the toilet seat...

Yesterday UPS delivered a record number of Christmas gifts...back to online stores! Returns were up 8% to more than 550-thousand. A record.

You'll be happy to know that our scientist friends at NASA say the world will NOT end on December 21st, 2012. The Mayan calendar proclaims that as the day another planet will collide with earth and...well, lights out. NASA says there are no objects headed out way over the next year. (even so... I'm still not starting my Christmas shopping until the 22nd.)

Entertainment stories you may have missed
  • Tom Cruise's "Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol" was number over the weekend with another $38.3 million in the bank. It's the second week on top for that flick
  • "I know we'll remain friends," Brand told the AP regarding his divorce to Katy Perry. The two were married 14 months.
  • Wynonna Judd is engaged...again. Her boyfriend, drummer Cactus Moser, proposed on Christmas Eve. This will be her 3rd shot at marriage
  • Michael Jordan popped the question to long-time girlfriend Yvette Prieto. Of course she said yes
  • Sinead O'Connor now admits that it wasn't her wedding night search for marijuana that ruined her marriage, but her taste for crack cocaine. Her husband, by the way, is a drug abuse counselor. Not a very good one, apparently.


How to Make Over Your Finances in 2 Hours

40 Minutes to save $400

Look at your previous 3 months of bank statements and check out how much you've been paying in fees. Between account maintenance and ATM fees, you're giving up a lot of extra money. Avoiding ATM fees alone could save more than $300 a year.

20 Minutes to save up to $300

Check your credit card bill monthly for any extra charges. Signing up for a free trial of one thing, could automatically sign you up for another. Example - a free security trial software automatically opts you in for insurance at $10 a month. That is what's called a "gray charge," and discovering a couple of them early can save a lot of headache.

25 minutes to save $1,000 a year or more

Put $42 a month into a savings account and use that money for the expenses you can't avoid like car repairs and children's birthday party gifts. Then sign up to automate deposits into your savings account to build up an emergency savings account in case you get laid off.

35 minutes to save $1,000 or more

Check out how much you're saving for retirement. If you make $50/grand, and put 4% into your 401(k), your company most likely throws in an additional $1500 a year. Raise that contribution to 7% ($58/month), and you'll save $6,125 a year.

Source: Good Housekeeping



3 Worst Tech Predictions in 2011

For every tech prediction that came true last year, a dozen were flat wrong. Here the top three:

1. The "ultra sexy" iPhone 5

The iPhone 5 was supposed to be thinner with a larger screen and rounded tear-drop shape profile. Not only was the iPhone 5 NOT sexy, but there was no iPhone 5.

2. Amazon will never make a tablet.

The Kindle Fire, priced at $200, sold 5-million units in its first month.

3. Facebook's Netflix impersonation.

Bloggers were sure Mark Zuckerberg would announce a Netflix style service for Facebook last September. Not even close. At least not yet.

source


Lost and Found

Lost: Engagement ring after it fell into the bathroom toilet at Donna and Terry's home in Montana.

Found: Engagement ring lodged in the same toilet 36 years later!

Terry happened to be working on a roof across the street from his former home when he saw the owners taking an old toilet outside. He asked if he could have it. He took it home and busted it open and there it was, still good after 36 years. "We cried and we laughed. We giggled and danced. It was great," said Donna. Let's hope they gave it a good scrubbin' before the dance... that's 36 years of flushes! Yuck!

source


Primetime, Baby!

ABC: Last Man Standing (NEW), Work It (PREMIERE), Celebrity Wife Swap (PREMIERE), Body of Proof (NEW)
CBS: NCIS (NEW), NCIS: Los Angeles (NEW), Unforgettable (NEW)
NBC: The Biggest Loser (PREMIERE), Parenthood (NEW)
FOX: Glee, New Girl, Raising Hope
CW: The Secret Circle, The Secret Circle


Joke of the Day

A preacher was walking down the street when he notices a little boy trying to ring the doorbell but it's just out of his reach. he watches his efforts for some time and walks over to press the the bell. After he pressed it he leveled down to the boy and asked' "Now what?" to which the boy turned and shouted, "NOW WE RUN!!"


Grab this App!



There's no doubt that life is good once the Krispy Kreme doughnuts roll out of the oven. Your timing has to be just right, though, and that's where the miracle of modern technology saves the day. Hot Light is an app that alerts you when your nearest Krispy Kreme fires up the "Hot Now" neon sign. The app lets you know when the glaze is melty fresh!


Note From Dave
Thanks for the really nice feedback over the holidays!  I did a little travelling and, like you, was busy with the kids and relatives.  So I'm sorry if I didn't get back to you, but know this -- I appreciate you very, very much.  There were a couple of interesting questions I'd like to address real soon.  One was how to get more Facebook followers on your station's page.  I have a few suggestions.  Some things that worked for us, and I'll have those this week... stay tuned!

-Dave