Blogs Archives

The Coast Social Network with the Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance – Monday, March 22

March 22, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Cornerstone Alliance, The Coast Social Network
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Zack is joined by Jessica and Kristen from the Women’s Business Center at Cornerstone Alliance to introduce the WomanLed virtual empowerment series of speakers, with the first event featuring Charmaine Brown on March 31st. Get details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/womanled-with-special-guest-charmaine-brown-tickets-143377827943
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Michigan Works! Can Help Businesses & Individuals in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren Counties

March 22, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Coast Social Network
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Zack speaks with Norma Devonish from Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren about opportunities for free support for local businesses that need assistance with their most pressing challenges, recruitment, and individual assistance with training, education, food assistance, career services, tuition assistance and other great personalized services. Get more details right now at miworks.org.
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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Monday, March 22

March 22, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
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TODAY IS: National Goof Off Day: Saturday was the first day of spring, and, let’s face it, we probably all have some serious spring fever. So – take some time to good off today.
More and more people are getting their COVID-19 vaccines – which is great news. But when you’re posting your vaccine selfies, you’re better off simply posting a photo of your band aid rather than the actual vaccine card proving you got your shots. According to the Better Business Bureau, those cards pose a huge identity theft risk because there is sensitive information, including your birth date and medical identification number, on the card. With a little digging, scammers can access way too much personal information with what’s visible on the card. On top of that, there’s also a huge market for printing up fake vaccine cards, which are getting sold for lots of money online! (Good Housekeeping)
Speaking of COVID vaccines, the state of Michigan is expanding vaccination eligibility for Michiganders ages 16 and older with disabilities or medical conditions that put them at high risk of negative COVID-19 outcome beginning today. The state is also announced that beginning Monday, April 5, all Michiganders age 16 and up who were not previously eligible will be eligible to receive a vaccine.
NCAA Women’s Basketball finally got a weight room on par with that of the men’s – after being called out on social media. Earlier this week, Stanford University Sports Performance Coach Ali Kershner shared photos on Instagram of a sad, small rack of dumbbells in the tiny women’s weight room compared to the benches, plates, racks and barbells in the massive men’s weight room. “This needs to be addressed,” Kershner wrote in the post. Well, it was. And the women received an upgraded facility. (Today)
How often do you write? Not just typing on a laptop or texting on your phone. How often do you put pen to paper? If you don’t, maybe you should start. Researchers from the University of Tokyo found that actually writing things down on paper helps you remember them better.
Is spring cleaning actually a popular thing now? Apparently it is. A new YouGov poll found that 77% of Americans say they plan to do some spring cleaning this year.  31% say they plan to do their spring cleaning this month. 28% said they’re waiting until April.  17% say they don’t plan to do any spring cleaning.
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Music News – Monday, March 22

March 22, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
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Huey Lewis is going to be featured on MTV’s ”Behind the Music.” The show is being rebooted for the Paramount+ streaming service. Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J and Ricky Martin will also be featured
Taylor Swift tells Elle magazine that she loves to cook. “I’ve always cooked a LOT, but I found three recipes I know I’ll be making at dinner parties for life: Ina Garten’s Real Meatballs and Spaghetti (I just use packaged bread crumbs and only ground beef for meat), Nigella Lawson’s Mughlai Chicken, and Jamie Oliver’s Chicken Fajitas with Molé Sauce. Getting a garlic crusher is a whole game changer. I also learned how to immediately calculate Celsius to Fahrenheit in my head. Which is what I’m pretty sure the Internet would call a ‘weird flex.'”
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The Happy Headline of the Day – Friday, March 19

March 19, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
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Over the past year, Lou Farrell of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, has donated more than 100,000 sandwiches to help homeless.
His secret? Well, his garage … and peanut butter and jelly.
He created a “bread drop” in that garage and did everything he could to let people deliver bread — and turn that bread into peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches.
Lou got so good at this, that bread only spent two days in his garage before being turned into something special that could be shared with those in need.
Things have gotten fast and furious. His garage has turned into a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich factory.
Lou has been getting help from 17 groups and 70 volunteers.
And, it’s all working out. People in need have been getting help with sandwiches — hand delivered.
Moving forward, Lou has been able to start collecting coats and hats — and other things needed in the community.
Lou deserves a lot of credit, considering all this started with a good PB&J in his garage. (WPVI-TV)
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The Daily Dish – Friday, March 19

March 19, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
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Oprah Winfrey could have another blockbuster interview in the works. Britney Spears is considering a “tell-all interview with Oprah.”
She’s feeling inspired from an outpouring of support since the release of Framing Britney Spears, streaming now at FX on Hulu. She’s feeling “more understood” and wishing to further reveal her story. Britney wants to share with the world her unique perspective.
A source said Britney would trust a very short list of people to help tell her story, from her pop princess days to becoming a conservatorship recluse. The insider told Entertainment Tonight, (quote) “Britney always hated doing interviews but if she ever takes that step, Oprah would most likely be her first choice.” (Entertainment Tonight)
Sharon Osbourne is convinced CBS will fire her as the network investigates her behavior on the set of The Talk.
In an interview with The Daily Mail, Sharon defended herself, saying the claims against her “are crap.”
She’s accused of using racist language with her co-hosts. But Sharon says, “In situations like this, you’re always going to get people who you’ve had disagreements with in the past, people who’ve got axes to grind, who come out of the woodwork and they’ll come out with their BS and that’s it.”
The Talk was put on hiatus Monday after Sharon mixed it up with co-host Sheryl Underwood last week while defending her friend Piers Morgan over his criticism of Meghan Markle. Now Sharon believes “they’re going use me as a sacrificial lamb and fire me.”
She calls the accusations “revenge” from bitter people.
Armie Hammer has been accused of rape and is under investigation by the LAPD, Variety reports.
The anonymous woman, who first made allegations about the actor on social media, came forward in a press conference on Thursday. Beside her attorney, Gloria Allred, the woman said, “On April 24th, 2017, Armie Hammer violently raped me for over four hours in Los Angeles, during which he repeatedly slapped my head against a wall, bruising my face. He also committed other acts of violence against me to which I did not consent.”
The woman, Effie, had an on-and-off relationship with Armie from 2016 to 2020.
Armie’s attorney denies the allegations. Andrew Brettler says, “Effie’s own correspondence with Mr. Hammer undermines and refutes her outrageous allegations. As recently as July 18th, 2020, [she] sent graphic texts to Mr. Hammer telling him what she wanted him to do to her. Mr. Hammer responded making it clear that he did not want to maintain that type of relationship with her.”
The LAPD later confirmed that Armie “is the main suspect in an alleged sexual assault investigation that was initiated February 3rd of this year.”
Effie did not disclose her full legal name during the press conference. She’s believed to be the woman behind the Instagram account “House of Effie,” which made allegations against the actor earlier this year.
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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Friday, March 19

March 19, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
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TODAY IS:
  • National Let’s Laugh Day
  • National Backyard Day
Dating during COVID hasn’t been easy … but Tinder wants to help. If you’ve been struggling to meet people because of quarantine, Tinder might have you covered. They’ll be sending 500 matched couples a pair of free COVID tests to get people back out into the dating world. Interested? You can claim a code for the tests on March 20th (via the Tinder app) starting at 7 p.m. (ET.) You can get more details here. (The Verge)
Forget cannabis brownies, we’re about to get some high-end cannabis-infused cuisine. Chopped 420 will premiere this spring – on 4/20, naturally, on discovery+. The Chopped spin-off will feature the same theme of chefs competing to impress the judges with their take on the basket of mystery ingredients. What won’t be a mystery, however, is that each basket will include some form of THC. (Food & Wine)
The first day of spring is tomorrow.  Here are some ways the changing season could make you happier and healthier . . .
1.  There’s better light.  We just changed the clocks so it’s brighter later now.  And the sudden jump in the amount of sunshine we get can have a big impact on our mood.
2.  The sky is bluer. It’s not your imagination, the sky actually looks more blue in the springtime.  It’s due in part to the Sun’s position in the sky this time of year.
3.  You might sleep better.  Being exposed to more sunlight during the day can help you sleep better at night.  And if you’re sleeping better, you’ll feel more awake and able to concentrate during the day.
4.  Activities like gardening are a mood-enhancer.  Any activity that gets you outside and moving is probably good for your health and wellbeing.  It can affect everything from your metabolism, weight, and mood, to things like cardiovascular disease and even eyesight.
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Music News – Friday, March 19

March 19, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
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If you were watching the Grammys late at night on CBS on Sunday, you might have caught the scandalous performance of “WAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. The song’s performance has really stirred up some new controversy.
TMZ reports that there have been at least 80 complaints to the FCC, CBS, and The Grammys so far about their racy *Grammy* night performance of “WAP.” Viewers sounded off about everything from lyrical content to wardrobe to the set design.
Specific complaints included a Colorado viewer saying it looked like “they were dancing in a strip club,” and someone from Texas who was offended by their clothing — or lack thereof, saying Megan was “barely dressed in a thong” with “naked look-alike legs.”
Considering 10 million people watched the show, 80 complaints doesn’t seem to be rattling any of the parties involved. By comparison, when Janet Jackson experienced her wardrobe malfunction showing her breast on the CBS telecast of the Super Bowl halftime performance in February of 2004, over 540,000 complaints were registered.
Taylor Swift tells Elle magazine that she has learned not to judge people based on first impressions. “First impressions actually aren’t everything. It’s impressive when someone can charm people instantly and own the room, but what I know now to be more valuable about a person is not their charming routine upon meeting them (I call it a “solid first 15”), but the layers of a person you discover in time. Are they honest, self-aware, and slyly funny at the moments you least expect it? Do they show up for you when you need them? Do they still love you after they’ve seen you broken? Or after they’ve walked in on you having a full conversation with your cats as if they’re people? These are things a first impression could never convey.”
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The Happy Headline of the Day – Thursday, March 18

March 18, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
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Seven-year-old Mila Diaz saw an opportunity at her parents’ business on the island of Maui to sell bracelets — and she made the most of it by donating some of the proceeds to a local charity.
From an early age, Mila had an interest in jewelry, so she began making bracelets using twine and colorful charms. She sold them at her parents’ store — and also sold them online.
After making and selling over 100 bracelets, Mila decided to donate $100 of her proceeds to Maui Economic Opportunity’s Head Start program, a pre-kindergarten program for children from low-income families in the area.
Mila’s efforts ended up inspiring others in her community. For example, a donor who heard about her work gave her $50 for the cause, which grew her donation even more.
Mila was able to see the power of her idea to help others — and now plans to make donations to a special cause each month. (Hawaii News Now)
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The Daily Dish – Thursday, March 18

March 18, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, The Daily Dish
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Ten days ago, a federal judge ruled that Kobe Bryant’s widow could learn the names of the four Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies that allegedly shared graphic photos of the deadly copter crash site. (Los Angeles Times)
On Wednesday, Vanessa Bryant Instagrammed copies of amended court documents that reveal the names of four law enforcement officers. Now her 14 million followers know these identities, too. Her lawsuit accuses the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department of failing to “take basic steps to ensure all copies of the improper photos were tracked down and sequestered.”
According to Bryant’s invasion of privacy suit, one of the officers shared crash site pictures with a buddy that “he played video games with every night”. Another showed pictures of Kobe’s body to a bartender, who turned around to describe the graphic images to restaurant patrons.
Internal investigation determined one of the officers “took between 25 and 100 photos … focused directly on the victims’ remains.” Another texted his gruesome photos to a female deputy “for no reason other than morbid gossip.” (New York Post)
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez are back together and working on their relationship.
Sources tell Page Six say that the two “are back together thanks to a frank, heart-to-heart talk last Friday night and a weekend spent together in the Dominican Republic.”
Last week, A-Rod jetted off to the Caribbean, where J-Lo is filming a movie called Shotgun Wedding, to save the relationship. An insider says, “They had a great couple days in the DR. They continue to work through things. That’s the status quo right now. They’re together.”
Sources said last week that the couple had decided to cancel their wedding plans and end their relationship. Things were apparently complicated by A-Rod’s rumored relationship with Southern Charm star Madison LeCroy.
Entertainment Tonight says Kristen Bell and her family have adopted a three-legged dog named Whiskey. She posted a picture of him along with the caption: “Meet Whiskey! Before he was rescued he got in a fight with a truck and lost (a leg) but who needs four legs anyway? The girls adore him and Dad lovingly tolerates him. No more truck stops for you, buddy. Welcome home.”
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Coffee Talk from Honor Credit Union – Thursday, March 18

March 18, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Coffee Talk
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TODAY IS:
Awkward Moments Day: Embarrassing moments happen – today is the day to celebrate them.
How much water do you drink in a day? None? Do you get close to the recommended amount? Do you even know the recommended amount? The “rule” seems to be half your body weight in ounces — more if you’re working out, at high-altitude, or if it’s hot and you’re spending time outdoors. (U.S.News & World Report)
Well, a new survey by Essencia Water reveals that most people are not getting enough water every day; in fact, only 37% even drink water daily. The result? We’re dehydrated. Seems many people are suffering the symptoms of dehydration – headaches, muscle cramps, and dizziness – and don’t even know it. And when they feel those symptoms, instead of reaching for water, they reach for over-the-counter pain relievers. The reason most people don’t drink enough water? According to the survey, they say they forget. (SWNS).
If that sounds like you and you want to drink more water, there are plenty of apps that can remind you. (Healthline)
If you were given $30,000, would you spend it on a wedding or on a down-payment for a house? That’s the premise of Netflix’s new reality series, Marriage or Mortgage. Two hosts, a real estate agent and an event planner, try to persuade couples to spend that 30K on either a fancy wedding or a down-payment on a house. While for many, it would seem like a no-brainer to use the money for a house, plenty of couples are making the choice to spend their budget on an extravagant wedding. (BuzzFeed)
It’s time to start taking more breaks at work.  A LOT more breaks.
A new study from North Carolina State University found you’ll have more energy and actually be better at your job if you start taking lots of “microbreaks” . . . which are each just around five minutes long.
Quote, “It’s in a company’s best interest to give employees autonomy in terms of taking microbreaks when they’re needed.”  So start taking lots of five-minute breaks, and if you get called out by your boss, say you’re slacking off FOR the company.
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Music News – Thursday, March 18

March 18, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Music News Podcast
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Another Britney Spears documentary is in the works.
Deadline reports that this latest look at the pop icon’s life is being produced by the BBC and anchored by journalist Mobeen Azhar. He traveled from Spears’ hometown of Kentwood, Louisiana, to Los Angeles and interviewed numerous fans and people close to the singer. A premiere date hasn’t been announced yet, but the BBC is looking to sell the broadcast rights to the film, tentatively called Britney, overseas.
This documentary follows Framing Britney Spears, which aired earlier this year on FX and Hulu.
There’s never been any talk about a Bruce Springsteen bio-pic in the vein of Queen‘s Bohemian Rhapsody or Elton John‘s Rocketman. But if there is one, Nick Jonas of The Jonas Brothers wants a shot at the role.
Jonas tells Zane Lowe, “Growing up in New Jersey, Bruce obviously has a special place in my heart and my creative life, and it is a dream of mine…to play him in a movie one day and tell his story in some way that would be honoring to him and that he could be involved with.”
Jonas has carved out a decent acting career alongside his day job in music. He’s been in two Jumanji films and Midway, and had a regular role on the series Kingdom.
Tina Turner is saying goodbye to fans. In her new HBO documentary, ‘TINA,’ the 81-year-old says she’s ready to spend the final chapter of her life out of the public’s eye. Tina isn’t in the best health. She has suffered a stroke, cancer, and kidney failure. But she says she’s found peace and happiness in her old age. ‘TINA’ begins streaming on HBO March 27th.
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The Happy Headline of the Day – Wednesday, March 17

March 17, 2021 *Mornings, *Podcasts, Blogs, Happy Headline of the Day
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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