*Mornings Archives

The Happy Headline of the Day – Friday, May 7

May 7, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
Jared and Lindsey Brooks own a towing company in Lawrence County, Arkansas. Because of this business, cars come into their lives — and out of their lives — more often than the rest of us.
They have done their best to pay it forward with these vehicles by donating some of them each year to high schoolers in need.
For example, at the end of April, they found two students who were having trouble getting back and forth to work, and who were also recognized by school officials as being hard working and honest.
So, Jared and Lindsey hooked the two students up with reliable vehicles.
The vehicles are a big part of the students’ plans to go to college. And as for Jared and Lindsey, it’s not just about giving away cars. It’s also about family legacy. The couple are acting on advice that has been passed down from generation to generation, suggesting, “Don’t forget where you come from and don’t forget who put you there.” (KAIT-TV)

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The Daily Dish – Friday, May 7

May 7, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
Ellen DeGeneres is living with another woman — Courteney Cox. But it’s not what you think.
On Thursday’s episode of Ellen, the comedian revealed she’s been staying at the Friends star’s home because she recently sold her Beverly Hills home.
“I’m not having marital troubles,” Ellen said about her wife Portia de Rossi. “I’m not living with Courteney Cox because I’m kicked out of my house.”
Courteney does have some issues with her new roommate. The actress said she sent her assistant over to make sure everything was okay at the house. “And all of the sudden it was like, ‘Wait a minute. Ellen’s toothbrush is on my side!’ I had her open the drawer and I was like, ‘Well, where’s my makeup?’ So essentially you’re a terrible roommate. You took over my side and your side.”
Ellen replied, “That was Portia who took over your side. I only have one side. She happened to be there one night.”
Four tigers were seized Thursday at Jeff Lowe‘s Tiger King Park in Thackerville, Oklahoma.
The Tiger King star, who was business partners with Joe Exotic, who owns the property, tells TMZ that federal authorities “executed a search and seizure warrant Thursday morning…and began taking animals away, which he believes is a violation of his constitutional rights.”
Jeff, who took over the zoo from Joe Exotic, claimed the feds refused to tell him why they seized the animals, but according to the warrant they’re taking animals protected by the Endangered Species Act.
There are no criminal charges to speak of yet and no arrests have been made. We’re told the feds were there to gather the big cats for “evidence.”
Netflix is planning to release Season Two of a Tiger King documentary series later this year. It’s not clear if the story revolves around Jeff Lowe.
Matthew Perry is the latest star to be outed as a user of the celebrity dating app Raya.
Kate Haralson recently posted a TikTok video of a private FaceTime call with the Friends star to expose how older men in Hollywood are “taking advantage” of younger women on dating apps.
Kate, who was 19 at the time, tells Page Six, “A lot of people were saying I’m a bully and mean for posting this, and it made me feel kind of bad, but at the same time, I feel like a lot of guys in Hollywood are talking to all these young girls and it’s something that I think a lot of people should be aware of.”
Kate says she “never even really watched Friends,” but agreed to talk with the actor because she thought it “would be funny.”
Perry allegedly suggested they play “20 Questions” to get to know each other better. Kate says none of the questions were sexual, but she did feel uncomfortable at times.
Kate, who’s now 20 and an L.A.-based personal assistant, claimed the Odd Couple star asked her at one point, “Am I as old as your dad?” She admitted that he was only about a year older than her father, which she claimed Matthew “laughed off.”
Haralson said she was “inspired” by the TikTok video another user posted of Ben Affleck after matching with him on Raya.
But Kate says she decided to remove her video because she “did feel a little bit bad,” adding that Perry really was a “nice guy.”

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Furry Friends Friday with Mickey & Mouse from Cass County Animal Control – May 7

May 7, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Furry Friends, The Coast Social Network

Meet Mickey and Mouse! These two beloved brothers are looking for their new forever home, either together or apart. Being 8 months old and primarily kept indoors, these boys can be a little timid at first as they are still learning about the world. Once comfortable Mickey and Mouse will show their opposite personalities. Mickey is more of an adventurous, social butterfly.  Mouse is more reserved and laid back . They have not yet been around children, and have not yet been around dogs. The adoption fee for each cat is $55 for a Cass County resident and $60 for an out of county resident.  Please contact Cass County Animal Control at 269-445-3701 to learn more about Mickey and Mouse.... [Read Full Story]

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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Friday, May 7

May 7, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
TODAY IS:
  • No Pants Day
  • Cosmopolitan Day: This day celebrates that classic cocktail of vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and freshly squeezed lime juice — served in a Martini glass. Cheers!
  • Sunday is Mother’s Day
Still don’t know what to get mom this year? Here’s an easy one – that she’ll definitely appreciate … check something off her to-do list. Let mom take a nap … or get a pedicure … or whatever she wants to do, while you take care of that errand or chore for her. (Washington Post)
And, while you’re picking up a card, gift, and flowers for Mother’s Day, you may want to take a moment to reach out to those who may be struggling on this holiday. Whether it’s a single dad who plays the role of both parents, someone whose mother has passed away, or a hopeful mom-to-be who has experienced miscarriage or infertility, there is a sentiment for that. The Skimm has found several greeting cards that offer either heartfelt or tongue-in-cheek messages. Included among them are cards that remind the receiver that they aren’t alone, that wish a Happy Mother’s Day to Dad, and for your thicker-skinned friend, a card that apologizes for their uterus being a jerk.
How Often Are You Showering These Days? COVID changed a lot of things – including how often we shower, apparently. Before the pandemic, Robin Harper, who works at a preschool on Martha’s Vineyard, showered every day. But when coronavirus kept her inside and away from others, she started showering once a week. And even though she is back at work, she is not back to her regular showering schedule. “Don’t get me wrong,” Robin said. “I like showers. But it’s one thing off my plate. I’m a mom. I work full-time, and it’s one less thing I have to do.”
She is not alone. Heather Whaley, a writer in Redding, Connecticut, told the New York Times that she started showering less when she went into lockdown. “Do I need to? Do I want to?” she said. “The act of taking a shower became less a matter of function and more of a matter of doing something for myself that I enjoyed.”
According to a new study out of Germany, being touched by a humanoid robot makes people happier. Researchers found that touching is so important and powerful that people aren’t terribly picky about who’s doing the touching. Stress, depression and anxiety can be reduced with simple physical interactions with machines. And, looking forward, there might be a way to create robots that fulfill the roles of therapists, personal trainers, and even life coaches. (AZORobotics)

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Music News – Friday, May 7

May 7, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
Movie star dreams for Camila Cabello just hit a hurdle. Her big-screen debut in the modern re-telling of Cinderella has been scrubbed. It won’t have a nationwide theatrical release in July.
Rumors swirled that Cinderella needed to land at a streaming platform due to lackluster performances. We still have not seen a trailer for Cinderella, which is rarely a positive sign. The celebrity blog Crazy Days and Night reported in January, (quote) “The producers hope it won’t have a full box office release because it will be a huge flop.”
Sony negotiated with Amazon Prime for streaming rights. Cinderella will debut soon at Amazon.
Due to suppressed box office returns, Sony has sent several movies to streaming platforms. The list includes Kristen Stewart in the holiday romantic comedy Happiest Season, HBO Max bought Seth Rogen’s An American Pickle and Kevin Hart’s drama for Sony,  Fatherhood, will stream at Netflix in June. (Deadline)
Coldplay made sure Thursday’s premiere of their new single “Higher Power” was out of this world.
For the very first listen the band linked up on an extraterrestrial video chat with French European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet, who is currently on board the International Space Station. They played him a specially-recorded performance of the song featuring dancing alien holograms.
The song’s premiere followed a conversation that covered similarities between life on tour and life on the ISS, the fragility of planet earth and whether Pesquet has spotted any aliens. You can find both their conversation and the performance video on YouTube.
Prince’s estate has teamed up with cosmetics company Urban Decay to create a makeup line inspired by the late superstar. It’ll be called ‘Live Loud In Color.’ The limited-edition collection will include makeup in black and gold and, of course, purple. Urban Decay designed the line in close collaboration with people in Prince’s artistic camp. It’ll be available on May 27th.

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Thursday, May 6

May 6, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
Robin Mach of Pacific, Missouri, has been an early childhood special education teacher for more than 20 years. That means, she has touched the lives of hundreds — if not thousands — of children during her career.
But, the biggest impact she’s ever had on a student might have happened last month, when she donated a kidney to five-year-old Kayleigh Kulage.
For most of her life, Kayleigh has had to deal with 11 hours of dialysis treatment each night.
Finally, last October, Kayleigh became eligible for a kidney transplant. And — wouldn’t you know it — her teacher Robin was a perfect match.
Doctors performed the surgeries and they were successful. Both Robin and Kayleigh are recovering nicely.
More importantly, though, Kayleigh is feeling better with her new kidney, just as the doctors had predicted. And because Kayleigh doesn’t need to sit through those long sessions of dialysis anymore, the family is planning their first vacation, hopefully to the beach. (WZVN-TV)

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The Daily Dish – Thursday, May 6

May 6, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
New details reveal that Bill and Melinda Gates negotiated their divorce for months. They planned to announce in March, but the pair still squabbled over details.
Melinda hoped to be unreachable at the time of the March announcement. She rented a private island for $132,000 per night. The entire family would escape the media crush on Calivigny Island in Grenada.
However, Bill Gates was not invited to Caribbean island. The family blames Bill for the divorce. According to TMZ, “There’s a considerable amount of acrimony associated with the split and virtually everyone in the family took Melinda’s side.”
Melinda Gates traveled in March to Calivigny without Bill. Then , this week, on the day she filed for divorce, he transferred $1.8 billion (with a B) worth of stock to her.
Josh Duggar had more than 200 images of child pornography, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
In a court hearing Wednesday in the 19 Kids and Counting star’s child pornography case, an agent said some of the children involved were as young as 5.
Josh appeared over Zoom for the hearing.
Federal authorities said his friends and family told law enforcement that Josh was addicted to porn.
The former reality star was arrested on child pornography charges last month. He’s pled not guilty.
The judge ruled that Josh will be released from jail on Thursday to “close friends” of the Duggar family. According to People magazine, he’ll be confined to their home and monitored with GPS tracking.
The judge said she “cannot in good conscience” release Josh to his pregnant wife Anna and their six children.
Broadway shows will return on September 14th.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that the Great White Way will reopen at 100 percent capacity. Tickets go on sale beginning today.
No word on which shows will reopen in September.
However, the timeline, according to Playbill, still depends on the state government’s final approval of each theatre operator’s health and safety protocols.

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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Thursday, May 6

May 6, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
TODAY IS:
  • National Nurses Day: A day to honor these hardworking heroes …
  • National Beverage Day: A good day to kick back with your favorite beverage. Maybe buy a nurse a drink?
Couples have definitely spent a lot more time together in the last year – and it seems the majority really liked it. In fact, a recent survey found that 68% said they have “adored” spending more time with their partner over the last year. Even more interesting — 24% said they are worried about getting separation anxiety from their partner when things get back to normal. And it seems that spending all that time together has strengthened relationships – with 60% of couples saying it has confirmed that they are perfect for each other.
Here are some of the things couples really enjoyed getting to do together over the last year:
  1. Going on walks – 46%
  2. Talking – 40%
  3. Eating lunch together – 37%
  4. Streaming shows – 37%
  5. Gardening – 32%
  6. Being able to help each other – 30%
  7. Sleeping in – 24%
  8. Waking up together every morning – 24%
  9. Doing DIY projects — 23%
  10. Sharing problems – 23%
A new survey found that we think really highly of ourselves. 46% of respondents said they are the best person they know. Men were more likely to think highly of themselves than women (86% vs. 67%).
If you’ve wanted to celebrate getting your COVID vaccine jab by going out for a celebratory drink, go ahead – it’s actually good for you. A survey published in the New York Times says that moderate drinking post-jab isn’t likely to hurt. In fact, some studies have even found that over the longer term, small or moderate amounts of alcohol might actually benefit the immune system by reducing inflammation.
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons released data that showed, of course, that there were big drops in cosmetic procedures in 2020 due to COVID. Their findings found that despite the drop, procedures like Botox and fillers remained popular. But this is surprising … Seems the biggest increase in cosmetic surgery in the last year was for butt implants. Apparently working from home and spending so much time sitting left people with the dreaded “pancake butt” and wanting a little lift in their behinds. (Bloomberg)

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Music News – Thursday, May 6

May 6, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
Pink went public with her COVID diagnosis more than a year ago, but she’s just now revealing how sick she really was — sick enough that she wrote out her will.
The singer tells the British arm of IHeartRadio that she and son Remington were badly hit, while hubby Carey Hart and daughter Willow got off easy. She says, “This is going to sound crazy, but we had COVID last year, very early in March, and it was really, really bad and I rewrote my will. You know, at the point where I thought it was over for us, I called my best friend and I said, ‘I just need you to tell Willow how much I loved her.'”
She came out of the battle with one major concern, adding, “What am I teaching them? And are they going to make it in this world, this crazy world that we live in now? And what do I need to tell them if this is the last time I ever get to tell them anything?”
Sorry, #FreeBritney crowd, she doesn’t want to be totally free — she just wants to ditch her dad.
According to TMZ, Britney Spears will not ask a California judge to remove her from her conservatorship when she finally gets to speak in court, but she will ask to have papa Jamie Spears removed from the picture. A source tells the site, “She has 99 percent of the freedom she’d have if she weren’t in a conservatorship, and the only thing she’s prevented from doing are crazy things, like buying three cars at a time, [which] she tried to do back in the day.”
The insider went on to say that Brit realizes she was out of control, and still needs some guidance in her day-to-day life.
John Mayer recently wrote a song for a fan to apologize for his behavior from an incident that happened 16 years ago.  A guy named Brian Burns had tweeted a photo of his mom from 2005 being turned away from a photo op with John by his manager.
John saw the tweet and felt bad about it, so he went on TikTok to do a special birthday song and apologize for the snub.
Brian responded with his mom’s voicemail reaction. She says John’s gesture, quote, “Just made my year . . . I am walking on air.”

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Wednesday, May 5

May 5, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
Back in 2018, when he was only four years old, Nathan Herber of Rochester, Minnesota, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Since then, he’s been dealing with the disease — along with coronavirus, like the rest of us.
His brave battle ended with a victory. After spending months in the hospital, Nathan knocked out the cancer — and was able to finally get back to school.
A couple weeks ago, more than 300 of his fellow students lined up in the school parking lot to surprise Nathan and wave “hello” on his last day of treatment.
Nathan was happy to be done with the hospital — and was especially happy to see his friends again, and for things to be “normal again.” (WABC-TV)

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The Daily Dish – Wednesday, May 5

May 5, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
Billie Lourd, the daughter of late actress Carrie Fisher had a great way to celebrate Star Wars Day on Tuesday. She introduced her seven-month-old son to Princess Leia.
Billie shared a photo of baby Kingston watching his late grandmother in Star Wars: A New Hope. “May the 4th,” she spelled out in emojis in the caption.
Kingston also wore a special brown knit cap featuring Leia’s iconic bun hairstyle, as well as a onesie with a picture of the character.
Meghan Markle continues to build her media empire.
The former Suits star is adding children’s book author to her resume.
Her book is titled The Bench, and is about “the special bond between father and son — as seen through a mother’s eyes.”
The story is said to be inspired by Prince Harry and their son Archie, who turns two on Thursday.
In a statement, Meghan says, “The Bench started as a poem I wrote for my husband on Father’s Day, the month after Archie was born.”
The book, which publishes on June 8th, comes only a few months after the former royals signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to produce documentaries, feature films, scripted television series and children’s series.
Move over, Will Smith, you’re not the only middle-aged Hollywood star who’s let himself go. Mark Wahlberg has been doing more snacking than weight-lifting lately and he’s showing off his new dad-bod.
The 49-year-old actor, who’s known for being a fitness buff, recently put on 20 pounds for his new movie, Father Stu. He posted a photo on Instagram showing what he looked like three weeks ago compared to what he looks like now and you wouldn’t believe it. And he’s not done putting on the pounds. He says he’s “going up another 20.”
But if you’re picturing Mark sitting on the couch chowing down on Wahlbergers, you’re wrong. He’s still working out hard, only he’s teamed up with a nutritionist who’s helping him gain weight the smart way. (Page Six)

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The Coast Social Network with Berrien Community Foundation – Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant – May 5

May 5, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Berrien Community Foundation, Blogs, The Coast Social Network

This week, Susan from BCF joins Zack to talk about the Stephen E. Upton “Love Your Community” Grant. Steve Upton is known for his charitable heart and love for Berrien County. A few years ago, he decided that one way he wanted to leave a legacy for Berrien County was to create a grant program at the Berrien Community Foundation.  So, the Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant was born!... [Read Full Story]

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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Wednesday, May 5

May 5, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
TODAY IS:
  • National Hoagie Day
It’s also Cinco de Mayo . . . and it’s really the first party holiday since huge numbers of people got the vaccine.  So I’m thinking LOTS of people are going to want to live it up today . . . even if they don’t know WHY they’re living it up.
A survey just asked people what Cinco de Mayo is actually about.  And only 10% of people knew the correct answer:  Celebrating a major Mexican battle win.  The victory was over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862.
39% of people thought Cinco de Mayo was Mexico’s Independence Day . . . 26% thought it was just a general celebration of Mexican-American culture . . . 13% admitted they had no idea . . . and 13% said it’s, quote, “an excuse to drink.”
The survey also found almost three-quarters of Americans said they planned to do something to celebrate.
59% will eat Mexican food . . . 32% will drink margaritas . . . 17% will drink Mexican beer . . . 14% will go to a party . . . and 8% will go to a bar.
And finally, 8% of people say they’re going to use today to read up on Mexican history.
Do you pets have more friends than you do? A new survey of pet owners found that more than 50% say their dog has more friends than they do — and 66% believe their dog has a “better social life” than they do. 57% said that their friends and family are more excited to see their dog than them. And your dog is definitely more popular with your co-workers. 63% of those surveyed said their pup is the “uncontested star” of their Zoom calls.
There’s no question that streaming services like Netflix helped us get through the last year. What would we have done with all those shows to watch and characters to care about? But what happens when you finish binge-ing a series you really loved? Do you get a little sad that it’s over? How about when you loved a season of a show and were anxiously awaiting the next season, only to find out the show has been canceled?
There’s even a name for it: PSD (Post-Series Depression). It’s defined as “the sadness felt after reading or watching a really long series or story. The bitter feeling when you know the journey is over, but you don’t want it to end. (Urban Dictionary)

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Music News – Wednesday, May 5

May 5, 2021 *Mornings, Blogs, Music News Podcast
Chris Martin of Coldplay has partnered with tech company Cisco on a video celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week.
In the 30-second clip, Martin remotely hooks up with a classroom of students, who request that he play “Yellow,” which he does, as they wave yellow balloons. He then thanks teachers “for all you do.”
In other Coldplay news, they’ll open the 2021 BRIT Awards — the U.K. equivalent of the Grammys. The band will perform their new single “Higher Power” on a pontoon on the Thames near London’s O2 Arena, where the ceremony takes place, on May 11th.
Fans have known Pink as an icon for a long, long time, and now the folks at the Billboard Music Awards have figured it out, too.
Pink will pick up the prestigious Icon Award at this year’s edition of the show, which airs on May 23rd. She joins the ranks of fellow pop royals Cher, Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez, Prince, Janet Jackson and Mariah Carey. In a statement, she says “As a little girl, I always dreamed about being a singer and sharing my love of music with the world.  It’s a true ‘pinch me’ moment and I feel humbled and blessed.”

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Tuesday, May 4

May 4, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
When the pandemic began, Tabitha McGuire got to work sewing masks — mostly for her daughter, who’s a social worker. Her goal in the beginning was to just create masks that were cute, as well as protective and safe.
She then started creating masks for family and friends … but then noticed something. She realized that many homeless people she saw didn’t have masks, or sometimes didn’t have clean masks.
So, she started creating the masks for them as well.
Tabitha eventually put together so many masks that she was able to load them into the car and deliver them to anyone who looked like they needed one.
She even added a special touch, adding snacks, wipes and a bag.
Tabitha will continue to create the masks for others, setting her sights on shelters and daycare centers. And, all this giving has led to her starting her own business, May Baby Masks, which she hopes to continue to grow until the need for masks disappears. (MSN)

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The Daily Dish – Tuesday, May 4

May 4, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
Bill and Melinda Gates are getting divorced after 27 years of marriage.
In a statement that the Microsoft co-founder tweeted out, the two say, “After a great deal of thought and a lot of work on our relationship, we have made the decision to end our marriage. Over the last 27 years, we have raised three incredible children and built a foundation that works all over the world to enable all people to lead healthy, productive lives. We continue to share a belief in that mission and will continue our work together at the foundation, but we no longer believe we can grow together as a couple in this next phase of our lives. We ask for space and privacy for our family as we begin to navigate this new life.”
Melinda was a marketing manager at Microsoft when the two met at a dinner for the company’s employees in 1987. They have three children.
With a net worth of $130 billion, Bill Gates is the world’s fourth richest person.
Will Smith doesn’t have a positive body image.
The 52-year-old posted a shirtless photo of himself on Instagram, and wrote, “I’m gonna be real wit ya’ll. I’m in the worst shape of my life.”
The star got plenty of support.
British singer-songwriter Sonna Rele commented, “You’re Will Smith!! You can be in whatever shape you want.”
And Tonight Show bandleader Questlove said, “This is the most amazing post in the history of social media.”
Michael Jackson‘s estate has beaten the IRS in a battle over the value of the late entertainer’s name and likeness.
According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. Tax Court Judge Mark Holmes found that the singer’s name and likeness were worth just over $4 million when he died in 2009 — not the $161 million the feds believed. Though the IRS did win on some minor points, the government will get far less in taxes on Jackson’s estate under this decision.

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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Tuesday, May 4

May 4, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
TODAY IS:
  • Star Wars Day: May the 4th be with you.
  • Renewal Day: It’s a day for new beginnings …
  • Teacher Appreciation Day: A good day to show some love for teachers.
Tired of being rushed out of restaurants before you’re ready? That might be a thing of the past, thanks to one New York City place that’s encouraging people to stay all day – and bring their laptops, too! Kindred, in Manhattan’s East Village, cooked up a plan to bring back customers after the pandemic lull. For $25-per day, per person, you get an all-day table reservation and WiFi — plus unlimited coffee, cold brew and tea. Food is extra, and you can even stick around for happy hour – if you buy a beverage. (New York Post)
Not all pets can be taken outside for a walk or a drive in the car, but one Japanese company has created a new carrier that will allow fish-owners to do just that. The Ma Corporation has designed the “katsugyo bag.”  It’s a portable, tube-shaped fish tank with a handle so you can carry your fish on a walk through the park. Or, you can take your fresh catch home alive from the lake. The carrier is more than just a portable fish tank. It also has an oxygen gauge and a device that delivers food to the little swimmer. The katsugyo bag isn’t available for sale yet, but it’s already gaining a lot of interest in Japan. (Oddity Central)
Well, this is … gross. A new survey out of the UK found that 30% of respondents said they only washed their sheets … once or twice a year. No joke. FYI: You’re supposed to wash them at least once a week. (Best Life)
When you see someone yawn, it tends to make YOU want to yawn, right? Well, a new study found the same thing also happens with our PHONES. Researchers in Italy wanted to see how many people would check their phone if they saw someone else check theirs.  So they tried it with 184 people who didn’t know they were being watched. And HALF of them picked up their own phone within 30 seconds. My first question was . . . well, don’t a lot of us check our phone every 30 seconds now anyway?  But when people in the study didn’t see someone check their phone, less than 1% picked their own phone up. It’s a phenomenon called the “chameleon effect.”

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Music News – Tuesday, May 4

May 4, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
Coldplay won’t release their new single, “Higher Power,” until Friday, but you can get a sneak preview of it on TikTok, where they’ve posted a video of Chris Martin dancing in a field to a 25-second snippet of its chorus.
The band previously tweeted that song “arrived on a little keyboard and a bathroom sink at the start of 2020. It was produced by Max Martin who is a true wonder of the universe.”
Britney Spears is calling all the documentaries being made about her “hypocritical.” This comes after the release of the BBC doc, ‘The Battle for Britney’ and the Hulu doc, ‘Framing Britney Spears.’ The pop icon posted a video over herself dancing. In the caption she wrote that “they criticize the media and then do the same thing.” In the comment section fans are questioning if she really wrote it.
Bruno Mars says his father and Elvis inspired him to become a performer. “My dad was a huge Elvis fan, and he’d always play the videos, of when he was young, especially. He exuded such confidence, such showmanship. I loved that, and I wanted girls to scream for me, of course.”

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Monday, May 3

May 3, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day, The Coast Social Network
When Joanne Marziani retired after 40 years of teaching, she still wanted to do something special for her students that would endure — even though she wasn’t in the building anymore.
Because she spent much of her career as a reading specialist, she decided to write a children’s book.
But instead of just sitting down and writing the first thing she thought of, Joanne took the extra step of asking her students what they wanted to read about. The overwhelming answer was … football.
Joanne learned that this was a great suggestion. While there were plenty of books about the sport written for kids who were in 3rd grade and higher, there weren’t many written for 1st and 2nd graders.
So, Joanne wrote a book called Josh Loves Football, that was not only fun to read, but also taught students more about the game.
After allowing the students to proofread the book and offer suggestions, Joanne finished it — and then sent two copies to each elementary in her school district.
She hopes that students who are struggling with reading will enjoy Josh Loves Football — and that the book will inspire them to read even more books in the future. (The St. Augustine Record)

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The Daily Dish – Monday, May 3

May 3, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, The Daily Dish
Olympia Dukakis, who won an Academy Award for her role in Moonstruck, has died. She was 89.
A cause of death was not immediately released.
Olympia won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1988, the same year her cousin, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, ran for the White House against George H.W. Bush.
The actress, who had a long career in the theater, also appeared in the movies Look Who’s Talking and Steel Magnolias.
Cher, who posted several photos of her Moonstruck co-star with her late husband, Louis Zorich, tweeted, “Olympia Dukakis Was an Amazing Academy Award Winning Actress. Olympia Played My Mom In Moonstruck & Even Though Her Part was That Of a Suffering Wife, We [laughed] ALL The Time. She Would Tell Me How MUCH She Loved Louis, Her Handsome Talented, Husband. I Talked To Her 3Wks Ago. Rip Dear One.”
Sally Field, who co-starred with Olympia in Steel Magnolias, tweeted, “What can I say but I loved her? Everyone loved her. She was a gift…unique and talented and one of a kind. Rest in peace, my friend Olympia.”
Is Bennifer back?
Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are hanging out 17 years after their breakup.
The Justice League star was photographed at J. Lo’s Los Angeles home on Friday. He was seen holding a green backpack as he exited his Escalade, and she was spotted sitting in the car.
A source tells People magazine, “They have spent time together in L.A. over the past week. They have a lot of love for each other. They have always admired each other.”
This comes just a few weeks after J Lo. split from her fiancé Alex Rodriguez.
But another source says they aren’t getting back together. “They are friends. They have always been friends and they have seen each other through the years.”
Affleck and Lopez were engaged in 2002, starred in the films Jersey Girl and Gigli, and then broke up in 2004.
The father of Britney Spears convinced the court in 2008 to establish a conservatorship by claiming, (quote) “Dementia patients do not go on world tours.”
Britney supposedly having “dementia” at age 26 is just one of several bombshell revelations in the BBC documentary The Battle for Britney.
Journalist Mobeen Azhar described why Jamie Spears may have said that Britney had a broken brain, (quote) “Britney might have dementia but the world was never aware of that. The other option is sinister. That’s the idea that she doesn’t have dementia but they suggested it because they want to push the conservatorship through.”
Her post-conservatorship lends credence to Britney being dementia-free. Since 2008, she went on four worldwide tours, released four albums and performed in Las Vegas a total of 248 times. (The Sun, UK)

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The Coast Social Network with the Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance – Monday, May 3

May 3, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Cornerstone Alliance, The Coast Social Network

May is a big month for events that you can be part of, courtesy of the Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance! Jessica, Brandon, Kristen, and Giovanna join Zack to chat about these great ways to start or improve your business and how you can get details at cornerstonewbc.com!... [Read Full Story]

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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Monday, May 3

May 3, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
Today is National Paranormal Day, so if your walls start bleeding or your kid starts saying things in a flat, creepy voice, don’t say I didn’t warn you. In a new survey in honor of the holiday . . .
1.  80% of Americans say they believe in ghosts.  That includes 45% who believe but have never seen one . . . and 35% who believe BECAUSE they’ve seen one.
2.  90% of people say they’re scared of paranormal activities.
3.  12% think the U.S. government knows more about aliens than it’s revealing.
4.  And 4% think they live in a haunted house.  (National Today) 
A lot of people got green thumbs during the pandemic … A new survey found that 52% of respondents invested in new plants and garden upgrades over the last year. I was definitely one of those people. I think I’ve purchased at least one new plant a week in April…
A hard seltzer brand wants to make lemonade – out of your lemon of a car. Vizzy Lemonade Hard Seltzer wants you to send them pics of your lemon of a car. The person with the worst lemon could win $25,000 to put toward a new car – as well as a year’s worth of Vizzy Lemonade Hard Seltzer. Check out the Vizzy website for more details. (Delish)
Red Lobster wants to make students’ prom extra cheesy this year … by turning their Cheddar Bay biscuits into a matching Cheddar Bay biscuit corsage and boutonniere. No joke. They even have instructions on Twitter for how to do it, in case you’re realllly interested. (Food & Wine)
Have you been thinking about a social media detox? How about if you got paid to do it? According to research by HowNow, a learning platform, the average person spends 58 minutes a day on Instagram. Well, they want people to use that time to learn something new instead. The company is recruiting three people to replace their social media time with learning a new skill of their choosing. And they’ll pay the people selected $692 a month for three months to do it. “Instead of scrolling, the successful candidates will dedicate that time to their new chosen skill, in an attempt to find out what can be learned when social media use is reduced or replaced,” HowNow said a statement. Find out more here. (Travel & Leisure)

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Music News – Monday, May 3

May 3, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
Justin Timberlake earned good-vibes publicity for reaching out the creator of the “It’s Gonna Be May” meme.
Back in 2012, Kianna Davis wrote on her college calendar “It’s Gonna Be May” next to a photo of Justin. She documented the moment on Twitter and remains her “pinned” tweet. On Saturday, the first day of May, Justin credited David with what she started.
She sorta apologized to Justin (quote) “Can’t believe this. I’ll never forget it (but dude I’m so sorry that you have to see this every year.) Love you always.”
Davis said (quote) “It’s nice to have so many friends around the world who love NSYNC. We pretty much have a holiday where we can celebrate the group.” (Billboard)
The father of Britney Spears convinced the court in 2008 to establish a conservatorship by claiming, (quote) “Dementia patients do not go on world tours.”
Britney supposedly having “dementia” at age 26 is just one of several bombshell revelations in the BBC documentary The Battle for Britney.
Journalist Mobeen Azhar described why Jamie Spears may have said that Britney had a broken brain, (quote) “Britney might have dementia but the world was never aware of that. The other option is sinister. That’s the idea that she doesn’t have dementia but they suggested it because they want to push the conservatorship through.”
Her post-conservatorship lends credence to Britney being dementia-free. Since 2008, she went on four worldwide tours, released four albums and performed in Las Vegas a total of 248 times. (The Sun, UK)
And, yet another one of Britney Spears‘ pals is implying that she’s basically a prisoner in her own home because of her strict conservatorship.
Brian Friedman, a choreographer who’s worked with Britney since the beginning of her career, appeared on British chat show Lorraine earlier today (Friday), and said he’s been unable to have a one-on-one with her for years. The dancer said, “I want to see the sparkle she had when we were first working together… There was definitely a wall that was put up and I don’t believe it’s a wall she put up. It was just this barrier that was created because of the conservatorship. It’s virtually impossible [to get in contact with her].”
He went on to say, “In my opinion, if she’s able to perform on stage and do a show and make all this money, she should be rewarded the basic luxuries of life like driving a car, having a phone to call your friends, being able to be in a room alone with someone like me.”

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Friday, April 30

April 30, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
17-year-old Zade Stone-Hinds was surfing off the coast of Santa Cruz, California, enjoying some big waves.
He had just finished his morning surfing session and stepped out of the water when he saw a man still in the water, struggling to keep his head above water.
Zade rushed back in, worked his way through the powerful surf, and was able to drag the man to safety. The daring rescue was successful as the man only sustained a few injuries.
Local officials and witnesses are calling Zade a hero whose rescue “really was amazing.”
While the life-or-death moments could have been overwhelming for others, Zade was ready for the challenge, explaining that he wasn’t “going to hesitate on something like that.” (KRON-TV)

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The Daily Dish – Friday, April 30

April 30, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
The people who allegedly dognapped Lady Gaga‘s two French Bulldogs and shot her dog walker were arrested today (Thursday), according to TMZ.
The woman who “found” the dogs was among those arrested.
TMZ says the key evidence in the case was a “video of where the dogs were dropped off in an alley days after the February 24th dognapping.”
While investigators initially believed the incident was part of a gang initiation, they now say the suspects were part of a dog-stealing ring.
According to sources, the suspects bailed on the dogs after getting nervous by all the publicity surrounding the incident. They were also hoping to cash in on the $500,000 reward. The woman who “found” the dogs, however, never got the money.
The poches were returned to Gaga unharmed, and the dogwalker, Ryan Fischer, is recovering after several weeks in the hospital.
Josh Duggar was arrested by Homeland Security on Thursday, People magazine reports.
The former 19 Kids and Counting star was being held without bond in an Arkansas jail.
As of Thursday night, his charges were not disclosed.
Josh, 33, has had a number of run-ins with the law over the years. In 2015, it was revealed that he had been investigated as a teen for inappropriately touching five underage girls, including two of his sisters.
In 2019, Josh was accused of real estate fraud and was “being sued for ‘quiet title’ and breaching a contract, according to court records.”
Josh’s place of employment, an Arkansas car dealership, was also previously raided by Homeland Security as part of an “ongoing federal investigation” in November 2019.
His arrest comes days after his wife Anna announced that she and Josh are expecting their seventh child together.
The first photos of Nicole Kidman in that upcoming Lucille Ball bio-pic have hit the internet, and fans aren’t sold.
Nicole was recently photographed on the Los Angeles set of Being the Ricardos along with co-star Javier Bardem, who plays Desi Arnaz. Though she wore a curly red wig, fans were fuming because they don’t think she resembles the I Love Lucy star.
One person wrote, “I love her but she looks nothing like Lucy.”
Another said, “She’s a good actress but this is not the role for her.”
Many others suggested another famous redhead play the part. “Debra Messing should be Lucille Ball,” one person added. “Brutal casting. Nicole has zero sense of humour.”
Writer and director Aaron Sorkin defended the casting in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. He said, “They’re going to be fantastic…These are two of the greatest actors ever.”

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