*Mornings Archives

Music News – Wednesday, June 23

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Today, Britney Spears will speak directly to a Los Angeles judge and request that her “oppressive” father be permanently removed as conservator.
Coincidentally, The New York Times obtained “confidential court records” that bolster Britney’s argument. She’s battled her father’s controlling behavior. She complained that Jamie Spears limited her allowance but took a large salary for himself, which went toward his relapse drinking.
For seven of the conservatorship’s 13 years, she fought to have dad ousted. Documents confirm that two years ago, Britney was forced against her will into a mental health facility. She told court-ordered investigators into the conservatorship how being institutionalized was her father’s “punishment for standing up for herself.”
Jamie Spears micromanaged Britney’s life to the extent that she required his approval on the color of her kitchen cabinets. He refused because she spent too lavishly. During Britney’s Las Vegas residency, she brought home nearly $1 million per show but was limited to $2000 on personal expenses.
During her court battles, Britney must pay attorney fees on both sides! Just not the lawyers fighting for her freedom but also the conservatorship lawyers who have argued for the status quo.
Britney’s grievances to the court over the years include:
  • Britney felt “sick of being taken advantage of on her payroll.” Her father took 3% of tour revenue and 1.5% from her Vegas residency.
  • Her security team kept her credit cards locked away.
  • Jamie Spears refused to take drug tests while Britney was “tested for drugs numerous times weekly.”
  • Forced to perform in Las Vegas despite a 104-degree fever.
  • Jamie Spears had final approval of Britney’s friends.

Ed Sheeran is moving in with James Corden for a week.
Starting this Monday, June 28, Ed will have a week-long residency on CBS’ The Late Late Show with James Corden.  According to a CBS press release, the residency, which will run through Thursday, July 1, will feature the TV debut of Ed’s new single “Bad Habits,” performances of his past hits, comedy segments and an interview.
The singer has posted yet another tease of the “Bad Habits” video, which gives us a good chunk of the song’s chorus along with visuals of Ed in his pink-suited vampire outfit.  “Excited for you to watch this one,” he captioned the clip.
In addition, Ed’s posted a video of himself playing the song on acoustic guitar.
“Bad Habits” and its music video arrive June 25. No word on when a new album will follow.
... [Read Full Story]

The Happy Headline of the Day – Tuesday, June 22

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Joe Tate of Anchorage, Alaska, was on the way back from a fishing trip and was stuck in a traffic jam. After looking around, he discovered the problem — cars were backing up because a baby moose was struggling to get across a guardrail.
Joe could tell that the moose was tired and very, very young — about a week old or so.
Joe watched as drivers got impatient and drove around the animal. This made him nervous as he didn’t want the baby moose to be injured, so he took action.
Friends were able to position a trailer to block the mother moose from seeing her baby while Joe approached and helped it along.
Joe admits that there was a risk involved, but drew from his experience in the military when he decided to solve the problem.
The baby moose was reunited with its mother — and out of harm’s way. As Joe said, “It worked out for the best.” (WLWT-TV)
... [Read Full Story]

The Daily Dish – Tuesday, June 22

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Ben Affleck is romancing Alex Rodriguez‘s ex, and now it looks like Alex Rodriguez is romancing Ben Affleck’s ex.
In a video obtained by Page Six, A-Rod is seen hanging out with Lindsay Shookus, the Saturday Night Live producer who dated Ben a couple of years ago. In the clip, the baseball legend is seated right beside Lindsay at “an intimate backyard gathering in the Hamptons.”
A rep for A-Rod denied a romance telling Page Six: “There is absolutely zero there. They’ve been friends for 15 years.”

Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib made history on Monday when he became the first active NFL player to come out as gay.
In an Instagram video, the 28-year-old said, “What’s up people? I’m at my house here in West Chester, Pennsylvania. I just want to take a quick moment to say that I’m gay. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now, but I finally feel comfortable enough to get it off my chest. I really have the best life, I’ve got the best family, friends and job a guy could ask for.”
Nassib added that “to cultivate a culture that’s accepting” he’s “going to start by donating $100,000 to the Trevor Project,” which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to the LGBTQ+ community.
In a statement, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league “is proud of Carl for courageously sharing his truth today.”
Michael Sam was the first openly gay player to be drafted in NFL history in 2014. But he was cut at the end of training camp that year and never played a regular-season game.

George Clooney, Don Cheadle, Kerry Washington, Mindy Kaling and Eva Longoria are among those who will co-found a film school for underserved communities. The Roybal School of Film and Television Production will begin in fall 2022. (Variety)

Over the weekend, Sesame Street introduced a family with two dads.
The special episode debuted during Pride Month and just ahead of Father’s Day.
In a post on Facebook, Alan Muraoka, one of the show’s actors who co-directed the episode, writes, “Sesame Street has always been a welcoming place of diversity and inclusion. Love is love, and we are so happy to add this special family to our Sesame family. Happy Pride to all!!!!”
In the episode titled “Family Day,” gay dads Frank and Dave attend at a party with their daughter Mia.
... [Read Full Story]

The Coast Social Network with United Way of Southwest Michigan – Tuesday, June 22

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Charlotte from United Way of Southwest Michigan joins Zack to talk about the Summer Stock-Up program running now through the end of the month, including some in-person drop-off food drives happening in St. Joe, Berrien Springs, and Paw Paw this Thursday! Get details or donate online at uwsm.org.... [Read Full Story]

Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Tuesday, June 22

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TODAY IS:
  • World Rainforest Day
  • Onion Rings Day
  • B Kinder Day

Are some first-date meals safer than others? Apparently so. A survey found that the “safest” meals for a first date are pizza (24%), burgers (21%), and salad (21%). Foods to stay away from on a first date? Oysters (19%), mussels (18%), and sushi (17%). The survey found that it takes at least four dates before people are comfortable with “riskier” food choices.
And, of course, the way someone eats can be a first-date deal breaker — with chewing loudly, eating messily, and asking to take home leftovers being the biggest dining deal breakers.
And this is interesting … According to the survey, steak is the meal of choice when proposing to someone … as well as the top choice when breaking up with someone.

Speaking of food … Good cooks are sexy. A new survey found that 43% of single respondents said someone being a good cook is a turn-on when looking for a partner. 40% said they are looking for someone who is as passionate about food as they are.

What if you moved into a new house and found a bloody imprint of a human body on the floor? Would you leave? A woman in New Jersey tore out the carpeting in her new home and claims she found what appears to be an old crime scene. There’s even an outline in marker and a ‘crime scene’ number written next to it. It was probably a prank by the guys who installed the carpet, but she insists its real. Either way, her TikTok video has been viewed more than 5 million times.

When it comes to divorce, custody can be a touchy subject, even when it comes to the pets. Who gets the dog? The cat? Or even the parrot? Yup, it’s all been brought up during divorce proceedings. There are options before getting married. Like a prenup, petnups” are meant to iron out the “what if” before the “I do.” Some states including California and Illinois have divorce laws giving judges leeway in considering what is in the best interest of the pet. New York state has a similar law pending.

Good news! The COVID death rate dropped below 300 a day for the first time since the start of the pandemic. As of today, 150 million Americans are now fully vaccinated! Last year, the coronavirus was the third leading cause of death in the U.S…only heart disease and cancer claimed more lives.
... [Read Full Story]

Music News – Tuesday, June 22

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Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel were very secretive about the birth of their second son, Phineas, but they’ve finally given the world a peek at the tot — via Justin’s Instagram.
JT celebrated Father’s Day by sharing the first public photos of the little fella, along with a note saying, “Being a dad is better than I ever could have imagined. Thankful to my dads and my grandfathers for leading the way, making the sacrifices for me to live out my dreams and for teaching me that REAL LIFE happens in all the little moments.”
The couple first revealed Phineas’s birth last July after dodging rumors of Biel’s pregnancy for months.

Lewis Capaldi sings sweet songs, but he gets a lot spicier on social media — according to a new survey that puts him near the top of the list  of our most foul-mouthed celebrities.
Gambling site Mr. Q combed through a year’s worth of tweets from dozens of stars and found that Lewis is very fond of dropping F-bombs, S-bombs and all sorts of other bombs. He racked up 384 trips to the swear jar, one behind sharp-tongued comic Seth Rogen.
While Lewis had an impressive array of curses, he’s got a lot to do if he wants to catch up to the list-topper — Kevin Hart, who dished out 954. (Daily Record)

More than 300 artists have banded together to sign an open letter urging the U.S. Senate to pass HR5, otherwise known as the Equality Act.
Taylor Swift, Billy Joel, Pink, Josh Groban, The Jonas Brothers, Ed Sheeran, Jason Mraz, Lady Gaga, Meghan Trainor, Sam Smith, Shawn Mendes, James Taylor, Justin Timberlake, Celine Dion, Elton John and Katy Perry are just a few of the many, many stars who’ve signed the letter.
The Equality Act would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  It would also expand protections for women, people of color and people of faith.
On June 24 at 7 p.m. ET, a virtual happy hour event called A Night of Action will encourage fans to take actions that support the passage of the act.  Special guest artists will appear throughout.  You can RSVP at EqualityTime.org/Music.
... [Read Full Story]

The Happy Headline of the Day – Monday, June 21

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Edwin Hendrickson of Muskegon, Michigan, has accomplished a lot in his 81 years. He’s been a chemical engineer. He repaired clocks. He’s been a pilot. And, about 10 years ago, he became a violin maker.
Over those 10 years, Edwin has created 75 hand-made violins — which he has decided to donate to Muskegon Public Schools.
Edwin’s passion for violins was introduced by his grandfather, who gave Edwin his violin and encouraged Edwin to take lessons.
That childhood memory inspired him to start making them.
Each time Edwin finished a violin, he set it on his shelf — and then began working on the next one. He never sold any of his violins, which ended up being a good thing for the students in the area.
Thanks to Edwin’s generosity, every student who wants a violin in 6th, 7th and 8th grade will have access to one.
The school district’s Orchestra Director Nick Voyt was, of course, thrilled about the donation, explaining, “It really is like winning the lottery.” (WZZM-TV)
... [Read Full Story]

The Daily Dish – Monday, June 21

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Prince Harry’s son Archie will never become a prince, according to The Daily Mail.
The paper says, “A grandchild of the sovereign has long had the right to be a Prince, but [King-in-waiting Prince Charles] is determined to limit the number of key Royals, believing the public does not wish to pay for an ever-expanding Monarchy.”
Charles reportedly told Harry that he’ll change key documents to block Archie, who is seventh in line to the throne, from inheriting the title.
The source says, “Harry and Meghan were told Archie would never be a Prince, even when Charles became King.”
Insiders say the move has angered Harry and wife Meghan Markle and is thought to have been the catalyst for the feud between the couple and the Royal Family.
The Mail says Charles plans to give only heirs to the throne and their immediate families full titles and financial and police support funded by taxpayers.

This Father’s Day, Bindi Irwin took the time the honor her late dad Steve, her husband and her father-in-law, while also accusing her grandfather of “psychological abuse.”
The 22-year-old new mom was asked why she left out her grandfather Bob Irwin in her tribute and she revealed why.
She wrote, “Unfortunately my grandfather Bob has shown no interest in spending time with me or my family. Publicly he continues to claim that he wants to spend time with us while privately my entire life has been psychological abuse from him.”
Bindi says her grandfather has returned gifts she’s sent him — after opening them. “From the time I was a little girl he has ignored me. Preferring to spend time doing anything else rather than being with me. He has never said a single kind word to me personally. It breaks my heart but it is not healthy to engage in an abusive relationship.”
Bindi claims her mom, Terri Irwin, continues to write letters and send gifts to Bob, even though he ignores her as well.
Bindi also says her family has been supporting Bob financially since 1992.

Chrissy Teigen has admitted to bullying celebrities in the past, but when it comes to fashion designer Michael Costello‘s allegations she’s calling BS.
Costello recently posted screenshots of alleged messages from Teigen showing the media personality attacking him. He said Chrissy got him blacklisted after he was falsely accused of being a racist several years ago and that the incident left him suicidal.
But now Chrissy says he faked the DMs and that she’s “surprised” and “disappointed” by his bullying accusations.
In a statement, she writes, “No idea what the [bleep] Michael Costello is doing. He just released a statement where he didn’t at ALL acknowledge how fake the dm’s were & now claims to have emails that don’t exist.”
On Friday, Chrissy’s husband, singer John Legend, called out Costello, tweeting, “Chrissy apologized for her public tweets, but after her apology, Mr Costello fabricated a DM exchange between them. This exchange was made up, completely fake, never happened.”
... [Read Full Story]

Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Monday, June 21

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TODAY IS:
  • National Seashell Day
  • International Yoga Day
  • National Selfie Day
  • National Daylight Appreciation Day

Vacation on our minds … new survey by Hilton Hotels found that more than 75% of respondents plan to take the “vacation of a lifetime” this year. 64% said they are in desperate need of a vacation after the stress of the last year and a half. 49% said they used the pandemic as an opportunity to save money for a dream trip.
According to the survey these are Americans’ Top 10 Wish List Destinations:
  1. The Grand Canyon in Arizona  — 26%
  2. The Eiffel Tower in France — 24%
  3. Niagara Falls — 22%
  4. The Statue of Liberty in New York City — 21%
  5. The Colosseum in Rome — 21%
  6. The Northern Lights in Iceland — 20%
  7. The Las Vegas Strip — 20%
  8. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia — 20%
  9. The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy — 19%
  10. The Acropolis, Greece — 17%

Twitter is going crazy over a butcher shop that sells hots dogs – in the shape of a hamburger. Yep, you can eat a hot dog – on a hamburger bun. Rastelli’s butcher is selling the hot dog patties on their website in a pack of four for $10. “Run out of hot dog buns? No problem,” says the product description on their website. “Our Round Dog is everything you love in a hot dog in the shape of a burger.” Twitter users say it looks like a thick piece of bologna. (Insider)

You weren’t imagining things … everybody was drinking more in 2020. The International Wines and Spirits Record (IWSR) released its annual report – and alcohol sales in 2020 were at their highest levels in nearly 20 years. Alcohol consumption increased by 2% last year over the year before – that’s the biggest yearly increase since 2002.  And it looks like 2021 is going to be just as boozy. Alcohol sales are still surging – and IWSR research predicts 2021 will end with a 3.8% increase over 2020. (Food & Wine)

And, when our relationships get rocky, if we truly love each other enough, we’ll do just about anything to save it. A couple from the Ukraine made a final attempt to save their relationship … by handcuffing themselves together. After 123 days of doing everything together … they’re breaking up. Yep, the cuffs came off and they decided to go their separate ways. Seems instead of bringing them closer together, the experience brought them even further apart. (Reuters)
... [Read Full Story]

Music News – Monday, June 21

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A charity event in support of Pride attracted a supergroup dubbed Back-Sync. Guys from *NSYNC joined a pair from BackStreet Boys for their sold-out debut performance on Friday.
AJ McLean and Nick Carter jumped on stage with Joey Fatone and Lance Bass. The show was so well-received that people murmured about a possible Las Vegas residency. Joey Fatone revealed, (quote) “It’s interesting to have the four of us knuckleheads do something together. BSB fans are very loyal, so we’re going, ‘We get it – certain people liked one band or the other back in the day, but now it’s okay to like both.’”
During rehearsals, the guys traded off in teaching choreography from their biggest hits. A TikTok clip from rehearsals went viral (Variety)

Taylor Swift just threw her fan base a curveball — by announcing that her next re-recorded album will be Red.
Swifties had been burning up social media with rumors that Tay was set to take on 1989 with her next outing, but she nixed that thought on Friday night by unveiling plans for Red: (Taylor’s Version).
In a long Instagram post, she explained that the revamped album would be her most over-the-top release yet, writing “Like your friend who calls you in the middle of the night going on and on about their ex, I just couldn’t stop writing/ This will be the first time you hear all 30 songs that were meant to go on Red. And hey, one of them is even ten minutes long.”
Red: (Taylor’s Version). is set for release on November 19th.

Adele just ensured that she’ll never have problems with her neighbors — by buying the mansion next door for herself.
She already owns two multi-million-dollar spreads on her Beverly Hills block, and she just spent another $10 million to purchase the estate from pal Nicole Richie and her husband, Good Charlotte‘s Benji Madden. There aren’t any of those luxurious listing photos, because the home was never really on the market, just sold between friends.
The surrounding gated community has plenty of allure for paparazzi, with neighboring homes owned by the likes of Nicole Kidman and Keith UrbanJennifer Lawrence and Katy Perry. (Domain)
... [Read Full Story]

The Happy Headline of the Day – Friday, June 18

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Employees of a Waffle House in Center Point, Alabama, went the extra mile to make sure their co-worker could attend and enjoy his high school graduation.
Last week, Timothy Harrison showed up for work at the Waffle House, confusing his manager and co-workers. It was the day of his graduation. Not a day to be at work.
When his manager, Cedric Hampton, asked Timothy what was going on, Timothy explained that he didn’t have a ride across town to the ceremony, so his plan was to just skip it.
That’s when Cedric and the rest of the crew sprung into action.
One employee drove Timothy over to the high school to get his cap and gown. Other employees went to a clothing store to buy Timothy a new pair of pants, a dress shirt and a tie.
They got Timothy ready and in the right place, just in time for the commencement.
Timothy was thankful that those close to him wanted him to succeed, explaining that putting on the special clothes for the ceremony made him feel like “a million dollars” and that it was “the best feeling.” (BoingBoing)
... [Read Full Story]

The Daily Dish – Friday, June 18

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Nothing can stop Kim Kardashian from posting sexy photos — not even a law degree.
The mogul, who’s studying for the bar, says she did give her risque pics a second thought. On Thursday night’s Keeping Up With the Kardashians reunion, she told Andy Cohen, “I thought about this. And then I thought, ‘You can do it all. You can do whatever you want.'”
Kim says it’s actually empowering to lead this double life. “I remember going to the White House one time and I was like, ‘I just posted a bikini pic, I hope they’re not looking at my Instagram while I’m in here.’ And then I thought, you know what, you’ve gotta be you. But I will say that, I don’t know, there’s something so freeing about feeling like, ‘…I’m 40 and I’m in the best shape of my life and I want to post a bikini studying if I want to.’”
But she does think about her children before posting photos. “I don’t want to embarrass my kids or make them feel a way if they’re in high school and I’m the embarrassing mom that’s like posing in selfies and in bikinis. There will be limits.”

Move over, Bennifer. There’s a new celeb couple reunion hitting the tabloids.
Angelina Jolie and her ex-husband Jonny Lee Miller are reportedly “reconnecting” more than two decades after their divorce,  according to the US Sun.
Angelina recently introduced her sons Pax, 17, and Knox, 12, to Jonny during her family’s recent trip to New York.
A source says, “On her first evening with Jonny, Angelina only took Knox along, and they got on like a house on fire. Knox is a sweet kid, and I imagine she decided he was the easiest one to begin introductions with.”
The insider claims the actress returned to her first husband’s apartment with Pax a day after so he could get to know the “guy she’s always spoken so fondly about.”
The insider did not reveal whether the former couple’s new relationship is romantic, but added that “she wanted to spend some time reconnecting with Jonny” during her New York trip.
In a 2004 interview, Angelina said divorcing Jonny “was probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”
They were married from 1996 to 1999.

Elizabeth Olsen wed singer Robbie Arnett — and the two have kept it a secret from the public for months.
According to Us Weekly, the two “quietly tied the knot” in 2020. The confirmation comes after the WandaVision star accidentally referred to Robbie as her husband during a conversation with Kaley Cuoco for Variety‘s “Actors on Actors” series.
The couple were also recently spotted wearing matching gold bands on their ring fingers.
Elizabeth and Robbie reportedly got engaged in 2019.
... [Read Full Story]

Furry Friends Friday with Simon from Van Buren County Animal Control – June 18

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King Simon is an adult neutered cat who loves to have conversations late into the night! He can spend long hours just cuddling and making you feel like the one and only person in the entire world! How great is that? Please contact Van Buren County Animal Control at 269-621-4624 for more information about our sensational Simon.... [Read Full Story]

Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Friday, June 18

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TODAY IS:
  • International Picnic Day
  • Flip Flop Day
  • Go Fishing Day
  • Splurge Day

Married … Without Children … According to a new study, 25% of coupled adults have no interest in having kids. And researchers from Michigan State University found that child-free couples were just as happy and satisfied as their peers who had kids.

Think earthquakes won’t happen around here? Well, Indiana just had one yesterday. The 3-point-8 magnitude rumbler hit about 60 miles outside of Indianapolis and shook houses in the middle of the afternoon. Earthquakes in Indiana aren’t unheard of but they can’t remember the last time they felt one in the middle of the state like yesterdays.

If you have a dad bod, you’re the current sex symbol of society, it would appear. According to a new survey by Planet Fitness, 72% of women and 68% of men not only accept the dad bod as the norm … but 65% of women and 50% of men said dad bods are sexy. And most women (59%) said they would rather be with a man who has a dad bod than someone really muscular. 48% of women and 44% of men even say that dad bods are the new six-pack.
That said … Men still feel judged for having them. 50% of men with dad bods feel judged by others for their bodies, and 47% of guys who don’t have dad bods said they would probably feel judged if they had one.

new survey found that 50% of respondents said the COVID-19 pandemic was so stressful for them, they don’t think they’ll ever be able to de-stress … even when it’s over. 25% said they are so stressed they want to escape to a cabin in the woods by themselves to get away from it all. 15% said a cabin in the woods didn’t go far enough — they want to go a deserted island, alone, to get away from everyone. For how long? The survey found that respondents would need 10 days away, by themselves, to completely de-stress.
... [Read Full Story]

Music News – Friday, June 18

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Britney Spears returned to Instagram to answer burning questions from her 30 million followers. Instagrammers learned she wears a size-seven shoe. Her favorite business trip happened in Italy thanks to host Donatella Versace.
Britney addressed a third question: “Will I ever take the stage again?”
Her father and the judge in Britney’s conservatorship case ought to take notice of her shocking answer, (quote) “I have no idea. I’m having fun right now. I’m in a transition in my life and I’m enjoying myself.”
Basically, Britney is on a work strike. She promised, as long as her father serves as conservator, Britney refuses to work.
Next week, at the court hearing, if Judge Brenda Penny rules in favor of Jamie Spears, it will effectively force Britney into retirement six months shy of her 40th birthday. (Billboard)

Diana Ross is back in style with a new album dropping this fall. The 77-year-old who rose to fame as the lead singer of ‘The Supremes’ will release her first studio album since 2006. Ross is known for hits with ‘The Supremes’ like ‘Baby Love’ and hit it big in her solo career with songs including ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.’ This new album, called ‘Thank You,’ was written during lockdown and recorded in her home studio. The title track is already available for streaming and download.
The full album will be released September 10th.
... [Read Full Story]

The Happy Headline of the Day – Thursday, June 17

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In Harbison Canyon, California, a seven-year-old Labrador retriever named Marley protected his owner by battling a rattlesnake.
The owner, Alex Loredo, was outside his home when he heard a noise — a big rattle, coming from a foot-long rattlesnake within striking distance.
Marley heard the rattle also and came running to the rescue. Marley pushed Alex out of the way and barked a few times at the snake.
The snake lunged at Marley and bit him twice — once on the tongue and once on the lip. After those quick strikes, the snake retreated.
Alex then rushed Marley to the veterinarian, where Marley received four doses of antivenom. Things weren’t looking so good for a day or so, but Marley turned a corner, got better — and was able to return home.
Alex explained that if it wasn’t for Marley, he would have been bitten and “it probably would have been really bad.”
Alex says Marley is “a hero” and his “best friend” and once his tongue heals, Alex plans to reward Marley with a bunch of burgers, which happens to be Marley’s favorite food. (WBTV-TV)
... [Read Full Story]

The Daily Dish – Thursday, June 17

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The brother of Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles  has been acquitted of all charges stemming from a 2018 New Year’s Eve shooting in Ohio, according to TMZ.
Tevin Biles-Thomas, who pled not guilty, was charged with murder, voluntary manslaughter and felonious assault in the shooting that took the lives of three people, including his 23-year-old cousin.
On Tuesday, the judge in the case granted his attorney’s request to acquit Tevin on all charges because of a lack of evidence.
Following the ruling, things got tense when a mother of one of the victims lunged at Tevin, saying, “I’m going to kill you.”
Simone, who is estranged from her brother, spoke about Tevin’s arrest back in 2019, saying, “My heart aches for everyone involved, especially for the victims and their families. There is nothing that I can say that will heal anyone’s pain, but I do want to express my sincere condolences to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.”

Soccer star Megan Rapinoe and actress Priyanka Chopra have joined Victoria’s Secret as spokeswomen.
The two won’t be donning skimpy lingerie. They’ll be the face of the declining company’s rebranding to be more inclusive and to have a wider audience. TMZ says Megan and Priyanka will “spearhead the new VS mission: inspiring change and positivity.”
The two women will appear on a podcast and in other marketing materials.
The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was cancelled in 2019 after 23 years.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will rocket to space next month, and thousands of his critics are trying to block his return to Earth.
Change.org petition, which refers to the billionaire as “Lex Luthor, disguised as the supposed owner of a super successful online retail store,” was started by someone who says it’s the only way to stop “an evil overlord hellbent on global domination.” So far it has received more than 10,000 signatures. Bezos has not yet commented on the petition.
... [Read Full Story]

Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Thursday, June 17

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TODAY IS:
  • Eat Your Veggies Day
  • Cherry Tart Day
  • Apple Strudel Day

Have you become an “outdoor” person since the pandemic?new survey found that 60% of respondents said they had transformed from “indoor people” to “outdoor people” during COVID. One of the biggest reasons? 67% said it was to get away from the people they were stuck indoors with. The survey found that people took their workouts outdoors over the last year as well, with those surveyed said they now prefer outdoor workouts like walking, hiking, running, and biking to indoor workouts like yoga and Pilates.

Don’t throw your banana peels in the trash — turn them into bacon! A growing foodie movement aimed at reducing food waste has discovered an unexpected use for discarded banana peels. You could actually make banana peel bacon. People say it’s pretty good — and much healthier than real bacon. Just scrape off all the banana remnants inside the peel. Then, marinate it in soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. Then fry it up and enjoy your new smoky, crispy snack while feeling good about producing less waste. Click here for the recipe.

Never waste cookies … it’s not the Girl Scouts’ way. There are at least 15 million boxes of unsold cookies sitting in Girl Scout warehouses. This surplus is largely due to declining sales and memberships during the pandemic. But the troops aren’t letting that spoil their mission. The Girl Scouts are pledging to donate boxes to various food banks, first responders and others deserving of some delicious cookies. (People)
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Music News – Thursday, June 17

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Things are heating up on the Gwen Stefani-Blake Shelton wedding front — according to a new report that says they’ll walk down the aisle this summer.
A source close to the couple tells People magazine, “They are both ecstatic that it can finally happen. They are getting married this summer. Gwen’s boys will be very involved. Blake is a great extra dad and very close with the boys.”
As for the reason for the delays? The insider says, “Ever since they got engaged, they have both been adamant that no wedding will happen until it’s safe for family and friends to attend. Gwen was upset earlier this year when it seemed to be no end in sight for the pandemic. She slowly started planning the wedding this spring though.”

Ed Sheeran just gave fans something to sink their teeth into — a teaser for the vampire-themed video for his comeback single, “Bad Habits.”
In the clip, a pasty-faced Sheeran shows his fangs and wipes a suspicious-looking red liquid from his lips while a creepy crew trails him down the street.
In a separate tweet. Ed hyped the single by promising a gift to one fan who pre-orders it, offering up a video of him “dedicating the song to you or a friend.”
“Bad Habits” is set for release on June 25th.

Some people have all the luck! A guy in a tiny town in Ontario, Canada bought a painting at a thrift shop – and after a little digging, found out it was an original work by David Bowie. Yeah, THEE David Bowie! It’s part of a series the singer painted in the late 90s. The guy bought it for 4-dollars-and-9-cents but it’s already gotten more than 30-grand in bids and the online auction runs until next Thursday.
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The Happy Headline of the Day – Wednesday, June 16

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High school graduate Verda Tetteh will be attending Harvard University in the fall on a full scholarship. Verda had such a successful high school career that she earned an extra $40,000 in scholarship money.
Upon learning about this extra $40,000 award, Verda turned it down — and asked that it be transferred to someone attending community college.
You see, even though Verda will be attending one of the most prestigious universities in the world, she has a soft spot in her heart for community colleges as her mother attended one — at age 39.
Her mom’s experience at that community college gave her mom — and the family — a big boost. So, giving that scholarship money to someone on that path who needs it was a special way of paying it forward. (YR Media)
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The Daily Dish – Wednesday, June 16

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Harvey Weinstein is about to get a change of scenery.
A judge has ordered the convicted producer to be extradited from New York to Los Angeles to face sexual assault charges.
Weinstein, who’s serving a 23-year sentence in upstate New York, is charged with rape, sexual battery and other crimes in connection with five incidents that allegedly occurred between 2004 and 2013, according to CNBC.
His lawyers had argued that Weinstein shouldn’t be extradited to California because of his poor health, among other reasons.
He faces up to 140 years in prison if convicted in the Los Angeles case.

No one acts or sings like Gaston . . . literally.  LUKE EVANS and JOSH GAD are back as the “Beauty and the Beast” duo, Gaston and LeFou.
Disney+ is doing an 8-episode prequel series . . . and the best part?  It’ll be a musical just like the live-action film.
Briana Middleton from “The Tender Bar” will play LeFou’s step-sister Tilly.  The series is set years before the movie, with the three characters going on a journey that includes lots of comedy, adventure and romance.
Josh will produce and write scripts, along with the creators of “Once Upon a Time”.
Alan Menken will return and compose the soundtrack . . . just like he did for both the cartoon and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films.

While JEFF BEZOS is preparing to launch himself into space . . . basically because he can . . . his ex-wife MACKENZIE just gave another $2.7 BILLION to various charities.  That’s on top of the $6 billion she gave away last year.
MacKenzie and her new husband Dan Jewett say they’re troubled by the increasing concentration of wealth among just a few people, and their goal is to, quote, “give away a fortune that was enabled by systems in need of change.”
MacKenzie is worth roughly $60 billion.  She and Jeff divorced in 2019, and she walked away with a 4% stake in Amazon.
After the split, she signed the Giving Pledge, which is a promise by rich people to give away the majority of their wealth.  It was designed by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates.
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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Wednesday, June 16

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TODAY IS:
  • World Tapas Day: A good day for tiny plates of food
  • Fresh Veggies Day: A good day to eat your veggies
  • Fudge Day: A great day to stop by your favorite fudge place and indulge!

Are simple things like going out to dinner with friends making you downright giddy? You may be experiencing post-pandemic joy. Mental health experts say the happiness people are feeling as they head out into the world again is very real. Reconnecting with people – and being out and about without worrying you might get sick – is releasing a whole lot of the feel-good hormone oxytocin in the brain — and making people downright euphoric. (Healthline)

Get ready for a shortage of teachers … A new survey found that 25% of teachers said they may leave their jobs at the end of the school year. That’s up from before the pandemic, when about 17% of teachers said they wanted to leave their jobs. Seems teachers were already stressed before the pandemic, and that stress increased during COVID. The survey also found that teachers were twice as likely to experience job-related stress than other working adults and three times as likely to experience symptoms of depression. (Market Watch)

Can’t sleep? Try lettuce water. The latest trend sweeping TikTok is drinking lettuce water to help with insomnia. Seems you boil some lettuce leaves and then drink the water – and it’s supposed to make you sleepy. Can it be true? Maybe. According to Dr. Christopher Winter, of Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and author of the book, The Sleep Solution: Why Your Sleep Is Broken and How to Fix It, lettuce contains something called lactucarium, which can make you feel drowsy. Lactucarium is that milky substance you see at the base of some types of lettuce – like romaine.
“It has a similar structure to opium, and has some sedative properties,” Dr. Winter says. That said, you would need a “tremendous” amount of lettuce to get the effects, according to the doctor. “The amount of lactucarium you’re getting from four to five lettuce leaves is unlikely to do much,” he says. But he does say that the warmth of the water could help make you sleepy – not to mention the placebo effect. If you do decide to try it, the good news is that drinking the water of boiled lettuce isn’t harmful. (Health)
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Music News – Wednesday, June 16

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Adele hasn’t forgotten the victims of London’s Grenfell high-rise fire, which killed more than 70 people back in 2017, and she wants to make sure no one else does either.
The singer made a rare appearance at a memorial for the fire victims one year after the tragic blaze, and was spotted singing along with a choir at the event. She just marked another anniversary by contributing a video message to a survivors group.
In the clip, she says “The trial is taking way too long and still no one has been held accountable for that night’s events and yet Grenfell United are still out here fighting tirelessly for the justice and for the change that not only they deserve but their community deserve – the whole country deserves.”

Taraji P. Henson will host this month’s BET Awards.
She says, “For more than 20 years, the BET Awards have been a celebration of Black creativity, art and excellence… Returning live, this year’s show will be unlike anything we have ever seen before, and I am honored to be sharing the stage with so many powerful and prolific women in music and entertainment. The BET Awards will once again be at the forefront of Black culture.”
Queen Latifah will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.
BET exec Connie Orlando says this year’s event will spotlight Black women. “Black women have been essential drivers of change throughout history, from the political sphere to the cultural zeitgeist.”
It all goes down June 27th on BET.

Harry Styles proved what a nice guy he is by simply laughing it off when pal Salma Hayek‘s rescue owl hacked up a hairball on his head.
In an interview on Ellen DeGeneres, Salma revealed that her bird got a little too up close and personal with Harry, but was relieved when he didn’t let the incident ruffle his feathers. She recalled, “He was really excited about the owl and was hoping the owl would go on his head because it was on me, But then [the owl] did the thing, and this thing came out, this ball of rat hair was on his head. He was okay. He was kind of cool, he didn’t scream. That happens sometimes when you have guests in this house!”
As we’ve reported, Salma also meditates with her owl.
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