*Mornings Archives

The Happy Headline of the Day – Wednesday, March 17

March 17, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
In Long Island, New York, an English bulldog named Sampson ran away from his owner and found himself in some serious trouble … on the tracks of a city train.
Sampson’s owner, Mike Francow, was — understandably — worried about Sampson. It was very unusual for the dog to just run off like that.
Luckily, the engineer of a Long Island Railroad train — Christian Beck — spotted Sampson on the tracks while slowly driving his train.
Christian had time to react and slow the train. Christian and his assistant conductor Vinny Fragale were then able to step off the train and call Sampson to safety.
It was clear that Sampson was one scared dog — but Christian and Vinny calmed him down and then brought him onboard the train, gave him some water, and made sure he was completely safe.
Using Facebook, Christian, Vinny, and other members of the crew put the word out that they found Sampson. Mike was thrilled to learn that his furry friend was safe — and was reunited quickly.
To top it all off with more good news, the train Christian and Vinny were driving ended up arriving on-time at their destination. (People)

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The Daily Dish – Wednesday, March 17

March 17, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
The Talk has extended its hiatus as co-host Sharon Osbourne faces more damning accusations.
The show was shut down following Sharon’s debate with co-host Sheryl Underwood over racism and her defense of Piers Morgan last week. CBS has opened an investigation into the incident.
The Talk was supposed to return on Wednesday, but CBS has put that plan on hold. A CBS spokesperson tells The Hollywood Reporter, “The show will extend its production hiatus until next Tuesday as we continue to review these issues.”
This week more accusations flew at Sharon. Original co-host Holly Robinson Peete tweeted that Sharon had made racist comments about her before her firing — a claim Sharon denies. On Tuesday, journalist Yashar Ali detailed more claims of Sharon’s racist language — including comments from original cast member Leah Remini.
On Tuesday, Sharon’s publicist, Howard Bragman, issued a statement: “The only thing worse than a disgruntled former employee is a disgruntled former talk show host. For 11 years Sharon has been kind, collegial and friendly with her hosts as evidenced by throwing them parties, inviting them to her home in the U.K. and other gestures of kindness too many to name. Sharon is disappointed but unfazed and hardly surprised by the lies, the recasting of history and the bitterness coming out at this moment. She will survive this, as she always has, and her heart will remain open and good because she refuses to let others take her down. She thanks her family, friends and fans for standing by her and knowing her true nature.”
Tiger is not out of the Woods. But the professional golfer had been discharged from the hospital.
Tuesday night, he tweeted from his Florida home that he’s “on the road to recovery.” A single-car accident three weeks ago caused multiple leg injuries, which required a series of surgeries and inserted metal plates and pins.
Tiger Woods’s message said in part, (quote) “Happy to report that I am back home and continuing my recovery. I am so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement that I have received.”
He thanked the medical staff at the two Los Angeles-area hospitals where he was treated. Tiger concluded his tweet, (quote) “I will be recovering at home and working on getting stronger every day.” (ESPN)

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The Coast Social Network with Berrien Community Foundation – Wednesday, March 17

March 17, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Berrien Community Foundation, Blogs, The Coast Social Network

Zack speaks with Lisa Cripps-Downey from the Berrien Community Foundation and Berrien County Commissioner Teri Freehling about the Berrien County Broadband Survey. You can help determine where the most needed broadband internet access should go in the county by taking the survey here: https://www.merit.edu/berrien/... [Read Full Story]

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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Wednesday, March 17

March 17, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
Today’s St. Patrick’s Day, but obviously saying its full name takes too long. So when you shorten it, which one of these do you go with:  St. Paddy’s Day, with two D’s . . . or St. Patty’s Day, with two T’s? For those of you grammar and spelling sticklers searching for the proper answer, according to a new survey, 49% of Americans go with the T version, 29% go with the D version, and the rest aren’t sure. People with Irish heritage are more likely to use the D version, which makes sense . . . the D version is the original, authentic Irish abbreviation. The patron saint of Ireland is St. Padraig, which has a D in the name.  In English, the name is St. Patrick, which is where the T’s come from.
So, what happens when you are really into a show like Game of Thrones? According to a new study from Ohio State University, which studied Games of Thrones fans, the reason people get so immersed in a show is because they, in essence, “become” their favorite characters. “When they think about a favorite fictional character, it appears similar in one part of the brain as when they are thinking about themselves,” said lead author Timothy Broom. “People who are high in trait identification not only get absorbed into a story, they also are really absorbed into a particular character,” he explained. “They report matching the thoughts of the character, they are thinking what the character is thinking, they are feeling what the character is feeling. They are inhabiting the role of that character.”
Warm weather is definitely coming … and your White Claw summer just got even better. The boozy seltzer company has announced that they are rolling out hard seltzer iced teas in four flavors: peach, raspberry, mango, and lemon. (Food & Wine)
The Spanish government is testing out a program that institutes a four-day work week to boost employee productivity and mental health. The pilot program will last three years and will include around 200 companies so they can study the results. Prediction: Happier employees, greater productivity. (People)

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Music News – Wednesday, March 17

March 17, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
A painting by Ed Sheeran has brought in a little more than $70,000 in a raffle hosted by a local English cancer charity.
Sheeran says the artwork, titled “Splash Planet,” is “kind of Jackson Pollocky.” It was created during a 30-day stretch where he was doing “a canvas a day” by “flicking… House paint” in layers. “Splash Planet” had previously been used in the cover art for his one-off “Afterglow” single. You can check the painting out on Sheeran’s Instagram.
Sheeran drew the winning raffle ticket (yesterday) Monday. According to Britain’s NME, “a fan on the U.S. East Coast” won, and will benefit Cancer Campaign in Suffolk.
Have we finally outgrown the idea of spending multiple hours watching celebrities congratulate themselves?  Sunday’s “Grammys” scored 8.8 million viewers . . . about HALF the number of people who tuned in last year.
However, that was still the biggest audience for an award show in the 2020 – 2021 season so far.
Fans of NAYA RIVERA are upset she was left out of the televised “In Memoriam” segment.  Even though she’s better known as an actress, she was nominated for two Grammys during her time on “Glee”.
Jon Bon Jovi tells the ‘Rockonteurs’ podcast that he does not think he will be doing massive tours in the future.  “I had a conversation about [playing in] Australia a year from now. As long as we do it in a manner that’s pleasurable, we want to do some dates. Because I just don’t see me doing 100-show tours any more. It’s not really motivational for me.”

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Tuesday, March 16

March 16, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
Since 1984, Marcos Perez has been donating his platelets every two weeks.
That’s 37 years of donations that have added up to 120 gallons of life-saving platelets.
Marcos was recently honored at the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center for reaching the 120-gallon milestone. Experts calculated that Marcos has saved nearly 3,000 lives with his 962 donations.
His desire to help was inspired early in his life. Very early. You see, Marcos was born prematurely and a blood transfusion saved his life.
And, he’s been trying to pay it forward ever since.
Marcos started donating platelets right when he became old enough to do so — and explained that he’s been “hooked” ever since.
Marcos says it makes him feel great because he’s living proof that blood donations do save lives — and without that one donation when he was a baby, he wouldn’t be celebrating all the donations he’s made since then. (Fox News)

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The Daily Dish – Tuesday, March 16

March 16, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
A lot of history was made with Monday’s announcement of the nominees for the Academy Awards.
Here are some highlights:
  • Mank scored 10 nominations, including for best picture, as well as for stars Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried and director David Fincher.
  • For the first time two women, Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) and Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), are up for best director.
  • Zhao is the first woman of color to be nominated for directing. She’s also the first woman to receive four nominations in a single year.
  • The 2021 contenders are the most diverse group of acting nominees in Oscar history, with nine actors of color up for awards.
  • Chadwick Boseman, who’s up for best actor, is the seventh performer to receive a posthumous nomination.
  • Steven Yeun (Minari) is the first Asian American to be nominated for best actor, and Riz Ahmed is the first Muslim actor to receive a nomination for best actor.
 The Oscars air live on ABC on April 25th.
CBS midday tv talk show, The Talk, is in “full self-destruct mode,” a source tells Page Six.
An internal investigation has been launched at the CBS show after co-host Elaine Welteroth and her hairstylist complained that there’s a “racially insensitive and hostile environment” on the set.
The insider added that the two “complained to HR over Sharon Osbourne’s recent exchange with Sheryl Underwood.”
The source added, “There’s a lot of finger-pointing going on behind the scenes… everyone is throwing whoever they can under the bus.”
Sharon is said to be “furious” with producers, allegedly believing they set her up. The source says, “Sharon felt the producers had been ordered not to prepare her and let her be blindsided on live TV because it would be more explosive and get more publicity.”
The show is already on hiatus this week as CBS investigates “the situation and concerns” after Sharon’s exchange with Sheryl after Sharon defended her friend Piers Morgan and his controversial comments about Meghan Markle.
Buckingham Palace announced it is hiring independent investigators to look into bullying allegations against Meghan Markle.
Some royal staffers have accused the Duchess of Sussex of creating a toxic work environment for them, including instances of bullying which sometimes brought them to tears. The law firm that will be leading the probe, will conduct interviews with staffers but will not speak with Meghan or Prince Harry.
Meghan has denied the accusations and called them a smear campaign. Royal sources say the inquiry will uncover “some harrowing stories” which have not yet come been made public. (Page Six)

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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Tuesday, March 16

March 16, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
TODAY IS:
  • No Selfies Day
  • Panda Day
  • Freedom of Information Day
Seems people are traveling lighter these days. A new British survey found that there’s been a 50% drop in people taking a bag (purse, briefcase, backpack, or otherwise) with them when they go out. 25% said they try to take fewer things with them when they leave the house now – using their phone as their wallets these days. No surprise, then, that according to the survey, a phone is one of the few essentials people take with them when they leave the house. Other essentials? A face mask and hand sanitizer. (SWNS)
As if spending weeks and months stuck at home due to the pandemic isn’t enough isolation, a group of 15 volunteers are entering a large cave in France and will stay there for 40 days to study the effects of effects of long-term isolation on the human brain. Eight men and seven women will have no access to sunlight, phones, watches, or any other way to tell time. The only devices they will have are special sensors to allow scientists above ground to monitor them. Volunteers will be provided with food and supplies, but they will have to figure out how to draw their own water and generate their own electricity. They are doing this merely for the good of science and are receiving no compensation. This would have been a better experiment a year ago. We kind of already have a good idea about what isolation can do to us. (The Connexion)
Birds who live in the hustle and bustle of major cities like New York have proven that they can adapt to any environment, specifically once the pandemic shut down all that hustle and bustle. Streets grew quieter, noise pollution reduced, and urban birds reverted back to their natural behavior – early morning singing. I just imagine people in New York throwing up their windows and screaming ‘shut up why don’t ya!’ (Insider)

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Music News – Tuesday, March 15

March 16, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
Dan Reynolds says there’s one big influence on the upcoming Imagine Dragons album — ayahuasca.
That’s a plant-based hallucinogenic tea from South America, and Reynolds says he tried it for the first time with his wife just after they’d put a halt to their divorce proceedings two years ago. He tells Rolling Stone, “It was really transformative for me, in helping me to see things that don’t matter and letting go of those things and seeing things that do matter and embracing those things. So that really transformed this whole record for me.”
But he’s not pushing it on anyone. “Obviously, I’m not looking to come out and be, like, Mr. Ayahuasca or something. But it was really transformative for me. It helped me to make leaps and strides in my mental health.”
If you ever need a place to stay while in Southern California, just hit up your buddy Adam Levine. The Maroon 5 frontman has purchased a Montecito, California mansion for $22.7 million. The estate was designed in 1923 and sits on five acres. The mansion has five bedrooms, a five car garage, a guest house, a fireplace, a pool, a movie theater, a wine cellar, a putting green, a creek, fountains and a tennis court.

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Monday, March 15

March 15, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
In Northern California, a 67-year-old man suffered a medical emergency while driving his SUV — and drove right into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River.
Luckily, Chris Arias was standing on the bank of the river when he saw the accident happen. Chris even heard the driver say that he couldn’t swim.
So, Chris made a split-second decision to jump into the river and swim to the SUV. He was able to get the driver out of the vehicle — and told the driver to hold onto his back, as he swam back to shore.
Chris admitted he was “pretty scared” because of the current and the cold temperature of the water.
But he got the job done and was relieved when he finally hit the ground with his feet.
Law enforcement officers on the scene said that the actions Chris took definitely saved the life of the driver, going so far as to describe Chris as “an everyday hero that goes under the radar.” (East Bay Times)

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The Daily Dish – Monday, March 15

March 15, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
History was made at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards by Beyonce.
She won four trophies, which gives her 28 overall. That’s the most by any singer ever and ties her for second all-time for any artist with Quincy Jones.
She won Best R-and-B Performance for “Black Parade,” Best Music Video for “Brown Skin Girl” and two awards for her collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion on “Savage.”
Megan also won Best New Artist. (And Beyonce’s daughter, Blue Ivy, won her first Grammy, sharing the award for Best Music Video.)
Billie Eilish won Record of the Year for “Everything I Wanted.” It’s the second year in a row she’s won that award. (Only Roberta Flack and U2 have done that before.) She also won Best Song Written for Visual Media for “No Time to Die” from the upcoming James Bond movie of the same name. It’s the first time that a song has won the award for an unreleased movie. Her brother Finneas shared in both awards.
Taylor Swift won Album of the Year for the third time with Folklore. (She won in 2016 for 1989 and in 2010 for Fearless. She’s the first female artist to win the award three times.
Justin Bieber took home only one award — and it was in a country category! It was for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Dan and Shay on “10,000 Hours.”
Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande won Best Pop Dup/Group Performance for “Rain on Me.” It’s the first time that award has been won by a female only act.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez spent their weekend refuting Friday’s shocking headlines that they split. On Saturday, a joint statement denied a breakup while hinting at a rough patch. It said, (quote) “We are working through some things.”
A source made it sound dire when they told E! News, (quote) “Alex is convincing Jennifer to try and work things out. Jennifer is giving herself time to think about their future. Alex is fully aware that this relationship is hanging by a thread.”
J-Lo unleashed on Sunday a slickly produced TikTok synced with the raunchy tune, “Pretty B Freestyle”, by Saweetie [pr: sah-WEE-tee]. The 30-second video featured snippets from J-Lo’s career of her acting like a boss. About halfway through, she turned to the camera to tell the tabloids, “You’re dumb.”
People noted there’s only one brief glimpse of A-Rod in that TikTok. It’s 100 percent J-Lo. Also, she has not appeared at all this month in Alex’s timeline. That’s raised a few eyebrows. An insider offered a reason, (quote) “They were having problems before she left for the Dominican Republic [for a movie shoot]. They haven’t been able to see each other much in person. But they love each other and want to keep working on things.” (People)

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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Monday, March 15

March 15, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
TODAY IS:
  • National Napping Day: This day is observed every year the day following the return of Daylight Saving Time. You lost an hour of sleep in the morning – so take a nap … and enjoy the extra light at the end of the day.
  • True Confessions Day: Got something you need to get off your chest? Today’s the day to do it …
You may have to go back to the office soon … but corporate execs plan to be much more flexible with work environments – and that means allowing pets in the office. Lots of people adopted animals during the pandemic, and more than 50% of executives in a new survey realize that and said they are planning to allow pets in the workplace when offices open up again. 57% of employees surveyed said they’d be happiest returning to work if their pets could be with them. And 38% said their biggest concern about returning to the office is worrying about their pet having separation anxiety. (SWNS)
Seems Elf on a Shelf has a new springtime helper … The Peep on a Perch. Yep, the Peep, which come with its own storybook, is there to help the Easter Bunny and make sure all kids are being good before its time for Peep on a Perch to fill up the Easter baskets. (Delish)
Have you heard about the TikTok “Nature’s Cereal” trend? Everyone from influencers to celebrities have jumped on the craze — including Lizzo. Instead of your standard cereal, whole food gurus started filling their breakfast bowls with pomegranate seeds and a variety of berries from blackberries to blueberries. Instead of milk, it gets topped with coconut water. Some people even add crushed ice for an added calorie-free crunch. Voilà — “Nature’s Cereal.” Really, it’s just a bowl of fruit for breakfast … but call it whatever you want. (GMA)

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Music News – Monday, March 15

March 15, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
Fiona Apple, Beyonce and the late John Prine are the leading winners so far at the 63rd Grammy Awards.
Apple won Best Rock Performance and Best Alternative Music Album. Beyonce won Best Music Film and Best Rap Performance for “Savage” with Megan Thee Stallion. And Prine won Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song for “I Remember Eveything.”
You can catch the complete rundown of the Grammy winners in today’s Daily Dish later at 8:30 here on The Best Mix in the Morning Show.
Matthew McConaughey has announced an all-star virtual benefit to help people in Texas impacted by the recent winter storms in the state.
We’re Texas will stream on his YouTube channel on March 21st, featuring Post Malone, Don Henley, Kelly Clarkson, Gary Clark Junior, Lyle Lovett, Leon Bridges, Willie Nelson and Khalid. More acts will be announced soon.
Selena Gomez fans can relax — she’s not retiring from music anytime soon.
In her Vogue cover interview she admitted, “It’s hard to keep doing music when people don’t necessarily take you seriously. I’ve had moments where I’ve been like, ‘What’s the point? Why do I keep doing this?’”
As if that weren’t enough, she added, “‘Lose You to Love Me’ I felt was the best song I’ve ever released, and for some people it still wasn’t enough. I think there are a lot of people who enjoy my music, and for that I’m so thankful, for that I keep going, but I think the next time I do an album it’ll be different. I want to give it one last try before I maybe retire music.”
But in a new L.A. Times interview, Selena says retirement is a ways off because the first thing she plans to do after pandemic restrictions are lifted is to head to Brazil to make up for the canceled Latin American leg of her Revival tour in 2016. “South America’s where I would start, because we missed it last time, and because that’s where my heart is.”
Gomez’s new Spanish-language EP Revelacion is out now.

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Friday, March 12

March 12, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
In Danville, Virginia, Jennifer Williams has earned the nickname “book lady,” thanks to her mission of giving away one-million books to people in her community.
Jennifer’s mission is inspired by her family. Her mother was a librarian and she would read to Jennifer … until Jennifer went off to college.
Jennifer wants students to love reading the way she did as a child, so she’s making that possible, one book at a time.
She started back in 2017 — and has already given away more than 63,000 books, mostly to students.
And the effort continues to this day. She collects donations and buys books with her own money. And, every year, she gives a book to each student at her local elementary school.
But that’s not all. She keeps 16 tiny, standalone libraries around town stocked with books — and also leaves books on picnic tables and in laundromats.
And even though she usually doesn’t leave a note, by now, a lot of people know the “book lady” was there. (Southern Living)

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The Daily Dish – Friday, March 12

March 12, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
Super Bowl halftime performer The Weeknd and his hit pop single “Blinding Lights” have dominated the Billboard charts for more than a year. Still, he failed to earn a Grammy nomination. He called the process “corrupt.”
The Weeknd is finished with the charades. He’s boycotting the Grammy Awards for the remainder of his career. He blamed the sketchy backroom shenanigans. (quote) “Because of the secret committees, I will no longer allow my label to submit my music to the Grammys.”
The Grammys have a terrible history of honoring Black artists. You have to go back to 2008 for the last time a Black musician won Album of the Year. That award went to jazz legend Herbie Hancock for a tribute album to the music of 77-year-old folk singer Joni Mitchell. (New York Times)
Sharon Osbourne got a bit miffed as she defended Piers Morgan on The Talk Thursday.
Piers is under fire for criticizing Meghan Markle following her big interview with Oprah Winfrey, but Sharon insists she shouldn’t be judged for standing by her pal Piers, who walked off the set of ITV’s Good Morning Britain this week and quit the show.
Sharon said, “I feel even like I’m about to be put in the electric chair because I have a friend who many people think is a racist so that makes me a racist.”
Then she got into it with co-host Sheryl Underwood, who is Black, saying, “I will ask you again Sheryl. I’ve been asking you during the break. I’m asking you again. And don’t try and cry because if anyone should be crying, it should be me. This is the situation. You tell me where you have heard him say … educate me, tell me when you have heard me say racist things! Educate me, tell me!”
Sheryl explained that it’s problematic that Piers believes Meghan’s claims are untrue. Sheryl says, “To not want to address that because she is a Black woman, and to try to dismiss it or to make it seem less than what it is, that’s what makes it racist.”
She added, “But right now, I’m talking to a woman who I believe is my friend and I don’t want anybody here to watch this and think we are attacking you for being racist.”
Matthew McConaughey has teased the possibility of a run for Governor of Texas in the past. Now the Oscar-winner is getting more serious about it.
While speaking on The Balanced Voice podcast this week, McConaughey said a political run “is a true consideration.”
Back in November, he said on The Late Show that he had “no plans” to run for governor of Texas. “I have no plans to do that right now,” he said at the time. “As I said, that would be up to a lot of other people.”
The next election for Texas governor takes place in November 2022.

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Furry Friends Friday with Miss Furbulous at Berrien County Animal Control – March 12

March 12, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Furry Friends, The Coast Social Network

Meet Miss Furbulous!  Check. Her. Out.  Miss Furbulous is all that and a bag of chips! This charming ray of sunshine is sure to add some pop and excitement into your home! Miss Furbulous was found as a frightened stray, but found her voice right away!  This hot stuff would benefit from a home that will show her how to be a gracious diva.  Miss Furbulous loves play time with puppies, and is eager to meet other dogs in your home.  Her fur is a beautiful merle type pattern.. easy on the eyes for sure.  This lady-love absolutely knows how to snuggle in once the day is done. Call Berrien County Animal Control at (269) 927-5648 to learn more about our magnificent Miss Furbulous!... [Read Full Story]

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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Friday, March 12

March 12, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
TODAY IS:
  • Girl Scout Day
  • Plant a Flower Day
  • International Fanny Pack Day
In his address to the nation last night, President Joe Biden said that he is directing states to make all American adults eligible to receive coronavirus vaccines by May 1. To be clear — this does not mean every adult will get a shot by May 1, but that they should be eligible for one by then. (USA Today)
When it comes to getting vaccinated, do you have a type of vaccine you want to get – or will you take anything you’re offered?
According to a YouGov/Economist poll, people are choosier than you would think. It seems people really seem to have a preference for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, with 61% saying it’s the one they want to get. Moderna was the second choice in the poll with 45%, and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine was the third favorite with 42%.
Do you always edit/filter photos of yourself before you post them? A new survey found that 90% of young women do – changing everything from the shape of their face to shaving off weight  “Posting on social media can produce the intense pleasure of ‘getting likes’ and appreciative attention, but it is also a source of huge anxiety for most young women,” said professor Rosalind Gill of the University of London. “I was struck by young women saying to me again and again: ‘I feel judged.’” (EurekAlert)
Remember going to bed and then not waking up again – at all — till the next morning? Yeah, we don’t either. Seems most of us haven’t had a good night’s sleep since we were kids. A new survey found that 67% of adults said they haven’t had a night of uninterrupted sleep since they were teenagers. (SWNS)

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Music News – Friday, March 11

March 12, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
So much for Adele and Simon Konecki‘s divorce agreement being kept confidential. One week after a judge signed off, their settlement was unsealed and published by TMZ.
There’s nothing shocking to be found. They settled the end of their marriage like two, mature adults. Adele and Konecki will share custody of their eight-year-old son, Angelo. Neither asked for spousal support, even though Adele is clearly the bread winner.
The couple separated two years ago. A friend said the marriage grew cold and “They became more like friends than lovers. She realized the romantic love was no longer there.” (TMZ)
Harry Styles earned the prestigious opening slot at Sunday night’s Grammy Awards.
This year’s COVID-safe ceremony will have pre-taped performances, as well as live ones inside the Los Angeles Convention Center and outside on the surrounding plaza.
CBS exec Jack Sussman said on Wednesday, (quote) “You don’t want to miss the top of the show. It’s going to be music coming at you heavy and hard like you’ve not seen it before.”
The Recording Academy nominated Harry Styles in three categories: Best Pop Solo Performance for “Watermelon Sugar,” Best Pop Vocal Album for Fine Line and Best Music Video for “Adore You.” (Variety)
Beyonce says she was inspired by Meghan Markle‘s interview with Oprah Winfrey and thanked the Duchess of Sussex for her courage in coming forward with her mental health struggles.
Queen Bey posted a message of her website which reads, “Thank you Meghan for your courage and leadership. We are all strengthened and inspired by you.” She also shared a photo she took with Meghan Markle when they first met at the London premiere of The Lion King in 2019.

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Thursday, March 11

March 11, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
37-year-old Detroit native Jennifer Landry is a staff sergeant in the Marine Corps, stationed in Indiana.
She has always been on the lookout for ways to help others by donating blood and researching ways to even donate bone marrow.
Well, she never got around to donating the bone marrow because she stumbled upon a Facebook post, requesting a kidney donor.
They needed somebody with O-positive blood. That was a match for Jennifer, so she started the process. Sure enough. She was a perfect match — and agreed to donate the kidney.
Little did she know that this stranger was a Marine veteran, retired Gunnery Sgt. Charles Dane, who had been awarded a Purple Heart medal.
The surgery was a success — and gave Charles a new lease on life.
Jennifer explained that she “always had that mindset where I love helping people,” so when she was presented with a chance to help out, “There was no hesitation. I just went for it.” (Albany Times Union)

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The Daily Dish – Thursday, March 11

March 11, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
Meghan Markle made many troubling claims in her interview with Oprah Winfrey on Sunday. Among them, that she experienced mental anguish that left her feeling as though she “just didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
While many people questioned her accusations, Meg’s close friend Janina Gavankar says she has proof. Janina tells the British show This Morning, “The truth will come out. There are plenty of emails and texts about that. I’m not going to get into the details of it. I don’t feel like that’s my place. I’m just happy that it’s actually being looked into because the truth really does set you free.”
Janina said that when Meghan was in despair she “turned to all of us. She turned to her husband.” The actress added that Meghan’s concerns were well-known within royal circles.
Things are getting ugly between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West.
According to Page Six, the divorcing couple are no longer “talking.”
A source says Kanye has even gone as far as changing all his phone numbers and told his estranged wife she could contact him only through his security.
The insider added that the rapper “abruptly cut himself off from Kim…even before they filed for divorce.”
Still, the two continue to co-parent their children, and Kanye regularly visits them at home while she’s away.
Kim filed for divorce on February 19th.
Michael B. Jordan will make his directorial debut with Creed 3, in which he’ll also star.
In a statement, Jordan said, “Directing has always been an aspiration, but the timing had to be right. Creed III is that moment — a time in my life where I’ve grown more sure of who I am, holding agency in my own story, maturing personally, growing professionally, and learning from the Greats like Ryan Coogler, most recently Denzel Washington, and other top tier directors I respect. All of which sets the table for this moment.”
The boxing sequel, also starring Tessa Thompson and Phylicia Rashad, hits theaters on November 23rd, 2022.
Jordon follows in the footsteps of Sylvester Stallone, who directed and starred in four Rocky movies — Rocky II, Rocky III, Rocky IV and Rocky Balboa.

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Music News – Thursday, March 10

March 11, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
The #FreeBritney movement has spread to Capitol Hill.
House Republicans in Washington D.C. demanded a congressional hearing on Britney Spears’ court-ordered conservatorships. She’s been under her father’s control for 13 years. The politicians submitted a letter this week to Representative Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, They asked him to convene a hearing.
The letter states in part, (quote) “In recent years, there has been growing public concern about the use of conservatorships to effectively deprive individuals of personal freedoms. The most striking example is perhaps the case of multi-platinum performing artist Britney Spears.” (NBC News)
Following her removal from a mural on the outer wall of Legend’s Corner in downtown Nashville, Taylor Swift is now getting a bit of artistic real estate all to herself.
Tim Davis, who created the collage of iconic country stars outside of Legends honky tonk, replaced Taylor’s image with Brad Paisley some months ago. But according to TMZ, he’s working on a piece focused solely on Taylor. Allegedly, she was removed from the Legends’ mural because of her jump into pop music.
Tim has located a spot for the new mural just a few blocks from Legends and is raising money for the project with a GoFundMe page.
Pat Benatar tells Billboard magazine that she had to play catch-up with her fame during her career. “Once it started it went like a blinding speed. You start out and all of a sudden you have “Heartbreaker” go up the chart and then the next record comes in and jumps eighty places in the chart and you’re not ready for that. Then when it goes to number two, you’re certainly not ready for that. Then the third comes in and goes to number one, I mean you’re just not ready. The band spends most of our time running behind what’s happening to us, running to catch up.”

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The Happy Headline of the Day – Wednesday, March 10

March 10, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
Kyler Murray is the quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals football team — but grew up near Dallas, Texas.
And, as we know, that area was impacted in a big way by the recent winter storms. The cold weather knocked out his power and hot water.
For Kyler, it was a wake-up call as he realized many others in his community were dealing with the same problems — so he stepped up and did something to help.
Kyler made a big donation that resulted in 60,000 meals being delivered to the North Texas Food Bank.
He described the gesture as a “no brainer” and pointed out that helping others in this time of need was his “bigger purpose.”
It certainly was big, as the North Texas Food Bank distributes food to more than 200 partner agencies in 13 counties. (ESPN)

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The Daily Dish – Wednesday, March 10

March 10, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
Queen Elizabeth has broken her silence on the Prince Harry – Meghan Markle interview with Oprah.
A statement released by Buckingham Palace says, “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members,”
During the bombshell interview, Meghan said that there was concern among some royals that Archie would be dark-skinned. Oprah later clarified that Harry and Meghan were not referring to the Queen or Prince Philip. (ABC News)
While Queen Elizabeth took the high road, Meg’s father and half-sister have not.
Thomas Markle tells Good Morning Britain it’s his daughter’s own fault for suffering. “She’s pretty much ghosted all of her family, on her mother’s side and my side. So she really had no one to reach out to. She would’ve had us, if she’d kept us.”
Samantha Markle said it wasn’t fair of Meghan to blame depression for anything. “Depression is not an excuse for treating people like dishrags and disposing of them.”
CBS is offering a second chance to watch the Prince Harry and Meghan Markel interview with Oprah Winfrey.
This Friday, the network will repeat the primetime special, which nearly 50 million people worldwide have watched. (Deadline)

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