TODAY IS WEDNESDAY - MARCH 26, 2009

The Morning Show
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Spirit FM
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Jim & Karen

LIFE CHANGING WORD

LOVE DARE # 34

Love celebrates godliness.

(Love) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:6

Love rejoices most in the things that please God. When your mate is gorwing in Christian character, persevering in faith, seeking, purity, and embracing roles of giving and service – becoming spiritually responsible in your home – the Bible says we should be celebrating it. The word “rejoices” in 1 Corinthians 13:6 carries the idea of being absolutely thrilled, excitedly cherring them on for what they’re allowing God to accomplish in their lives.

And what more could we want for our wife or husband than for them to experience God’s best in life?

TODAY’S DARE: Find a specific, recent, example when your spouse demonstrated Christian character in a noticeable way. Verbally commend them for this at some point today.



TODAY IS…..

Today is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day, a day to name for whatever you wish.
So let’s do it! How about:

Cut Congress in Half Day.

Find Out Why Super Glue Doesn’t Stick to the Tube Day But Will Glue Your Fingers Together.


This is National Bubble Gum Week. I had planned a special bubble gum promotion, but I figured I'd blow it. American's spend over $200-million a year on bubble gum, not counting the dental bills.

Actress-singer-talker Vicki Lawrence is 59 today. So I guess now she's almost old enough to play "Mama" without any makeup.



In The News…..

First daughters MALIA and SASHA OBAMA may be the most popular little girls in all of America. Not only have they received a personal visit by the JONAS BROTHERS, sources tell the NY Daily News' Gatecrasher gossip column that FERGIE is going to pop into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to perform for the pair. We may not hear about it even if she does make an appearance, since the story was denied by both her reps as well as those for the President.


Spend to Save?
At a newsconference last night, President Obama promised to reduce the deficit by borrowing another two trillion dollars. President Obama insists we can spend more and still reduce the deficit... mostly by using identity theft.
President Obama says Americans are angry. We are angry. But we don’t want a press conference — we want to see the President pelting AIG executives with a sock full of quarters shouting, “Here’s change we can believe in!”


Save the Papers
Democrats in the Senate want to help save newspapers by designating them as non-profit organizations.... which is funny because that's what Senate Democrats have been trying to make the entire country for the last 40 years.


Dodd & AIG
It turns out Senator Chris Dodd's wife was a director at a company controlled by AIG. Dodd insists he doesn't remember marrying her.


President Obama has filled the three remaining top jobs at the Treasury Department. Their job is to collect taxes from all the Cabinet members who haven’t paid them yet.

On “60 Minutes” the other night, reporter Steve Kroft asked President Obama how he could laugh with all this financial trouble going on. The president said that it’s necessary to have a measure of gallows humor to get you through the day. You know why Obama likes gallows humor? It works much better for him than bowling humor.
You know this whole thing with the Octo-mom is wearing me out. Her behaviour is so bizarre these days and then on top of that it seems like you can’t believe anything she tells you. I’m scared to death the help is gonna clean behind her couch and find two more kids!!



4,800 Calorie Burger. The West Michigan Whitecaps, a minor league baseball team, will be offering up major league cholesterol, carbohydrates and calories in an enormous hamburger being added to the menu this year at the Fifth Third Ballpark .The 4-pound, $20 burger features five beef patties, five slices of cheese, nearly a cup of chili and liberal doses of salsa and corn chips, all on an 8-inch sesame-seed bun. That's a lot of dough! "You won't need a 7th inning stretch at that ball park. You'll need a 7th inning STRETCHER.



In Ganzhashan Qian village, China, a 42-year-old woman says she has been howling like a wolf for 26 years, but can't help it. She says: "My howls are like sneezes or yawns, they can't be controlled." She feels a "release of gas" inside her when she howls. The woman's neighbor said that when she heard the sound for the first time she thought there were wolves outside”



"As Americans forgo expensive vacations, costly dinners and shopping mall splurges, many are opting instead for the quiet simplicity of fishing, according to the sport fishing industry and reports from bait shops and fishermen.

From the icy north to fly-fishing streams in Texas, angling is on the rise. For families, it's an inexpensive outing. Those with a knack for it can trim their grocery bills. And for newly unemployed, it's something to do."

Of course you can tell if a person is a fisherman. Here are the signs:

You call your boat "sweetheart" and your wife "skeeter".

You name your black lab "Mercury" and your cat "Evinrude".

Bass Pro Shop has a private line just for you.

You have a photo of your 10 lb. bass on your desk at work instead of your family.




Guilty Pleasures:
Facebook may be the hottest social networking tool out there but now there's a facebook just for the rich. As the site says, membership to Affluence.org is completely free but requires you have a minimum net worth of $3 million or a minimum annual household income of $300-thousand. Or you could convince five members to vouch for you.The site actually checks your credit report to verify you're net worth. Average net worth of its 25-thousand members: $32.7 million.

So far, the site hasn't turned a profit but about 400 to 500 new people join each day, suggesting that the recession has hit the very wealthy as much as the middle class.




Chains Offering Cheap Eats
Chains have little choice. Cash-strapped consumers are holding back on eating out. Same-store sales have been falling for 14 months and were down 3.6% in February, says researcher Knapp-Track. Here's who's doing what:

• Chili's. On April 6, the chain will offer a "10 meals for under $7" deal. Officials declined to discuss details until closer to rollout.
• T.G.I. Friday's. This month, Friday's began a promotion featuring 10 entrees priced at $9.99 — in some cases a 29% price cut. "We need to offer deep value to drive traffic," says Andrew Jordan, marketing chief.
• Applebee's. Since mid-November, the chain has offered a "2 for $20" special of two entrees and one appetizer. "While we can't fix the economic challenges, we are offering … value," says Shannon Scott, marketing chief.
• Outback Steakhouse. For months, the chain has marketed 15 meals for under $15. "We decided to get back to the DNA of the brand," says Dan Dillon, marketing chief.
• Cheesecake Factory. A "Small Plates and Snacks" menu includes a $4.95 Pizzette, a flat, football-shaped pizza some folks are ordering as a meal. "We're making Cheesecake Factory (CAKE) more accessible," says Mark Mears, marketing chief.




Nickelodeon will ask kids to unplug their games and gadgets for a minute on Earth Day to symbolize a commitment to helping the environment.

The unplugged minute will come at nine o'clock in the evening on April 22, when many of Nick's viewers should arguably be in bed. It doesn't extend to television sets, but is largely targeted at household lights, hand-held games and cell phones
Nickelodeon has previously asked kids to turn off the TV for one day each year and go out and play, and will likely do so again.



Bigger Face Means More Confidence?
Personology is the study of a person's facial structure and how it correlates to behavior. It's meant to help people tune into others thinking, feelings emotions, values, desires and interests, according to proponents.
2knowmyself.com touts itself as the complete source for face reading on the Internet. It also provides various descriptions and what they mean about an individual's personality.

The Web site says a person with a broad face is confident by nature.

"This person has got good influencing abilities; he usually has a relativity larger distance between his two eyes because of his broad face," the site says.

A person with a thin face is confident by experience and not by nature. A broad-faced person is not usually interested in details. These types of people may also not be as adventurous.

The site says the round-faced person may also be friendlier.
A person's lip size also provides insight, according to personology. People with big lips tend to be talkative. The site says, "When you want to ask for directions down the street, pick someone with big lips; he will give you the full details on how and where to go."



10 Surprising Fitness Tips – Jim Do You Do All Of These?????


Don't exercise with your "BFF."Many experts recommend working out with friends to increase motivation, but it can backfire. "People end up talking more than exercising or slowing their speeds or [lowering] intensity levels to chat," says Stacey Rosenfeld, Ph.D., a psychologist at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City. Plus, walking or running with friends can prevent you from following your body's cues. If you want to speed up or slow down, for instance, you may not be able to coordinate that with someone else. Arrive at the gym with friends to increase motivation, but save the bonding for later.

Choose your workout clothes carefully
According to psychologists, red can increase blood circulation and body temperature, which can boost workout efficiency .For example: reds and oranges increase body temperature, which pumps you up for exercise and keeps you energized for a longer workout.

Drink pickle and pineapple juices.
The salt and vinegar in pickle juice can help muscles recover from sodium loss and decrease cramping. "If you're training on a hot day or doing intense activities, drink four to eight ounces of pickle juice 45 minutes and eight to 10 ounces of water 30 minutes before your session," says certified nutritionist and fitness trainer Majid Ali of the Healing Center in Culver City, Calif. "If your stomach can handle it, drink four to six ounces after or during your session to speed recovery." Pineapple juice can also reduce post-workout inflammation. "The bromelain [an enzyme] in pineapple juice removes lactic acid buildup in the muscles, which causes inflammation," he says. Ali recommends drinking six to 10 ounces, 30 minutes after training.

Get off the elliptical trainer.
"The elliptical is mindless and by far the least effective machine for fat loss," says L.A.–based Torri Shack, who's certified by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. "It uses momentum, not muscle force. Most people don't use enough resistance." This machine may increase your heart rate and sweat level, but to burn fat using one, Shack says you'll need to exercise for 45 to 60 minutes and vary your levels of intensity and resistance. Shack adds that the elliptical machine is best for warming up before weight lifting or rehabilitating injured body parts. "If you can watch television or read while doing cardio, you're not working hard enough, and therefore not burning fat," she says.

Don't sweat it.
Sweat is your body's way of regulating your rising temperature, not a clear sign of increased calorie burn or an intense workout. "In the sauna, you'll sweat buckets, but you aren't burning fat," says Brad Schoenfeld, certified strength and conditioning specialist and author of The 28-Day Body Shapeover (Human Kinetics, 2005). "The best indicator of calorie burn is either heart rate or Rate of Perceived Exertion." RPE is a self-reported scale that determines intensity; it ranges from 1 (complete rest) to 10 (maximum effort). High intensity exercise—such as interval training—increases your heart rate, which equals more fat burn. So, don't aim solely for a sweaty workout. Go for an intense one.

Practice your "Get-Up."
"The Get-Up is one of the best kept secrets in the fitness industry," says Houston-based certified strength and conditioning specialist Sean Cashman. "It's one of the most functional exercises [meaning it trains your body for real-life situations], yet the majority of gym-goers have never heard of it. You move from lying down, up to a standing position, and back down, all while holding a weight above your head." Cashman suggests a 10- to 20-pound weight to start. "The Get-Up integrates all joints and muscles in one sequence," he says. "It increases your whole body's strength, stability, balance and flexibility."

Say "shhh."
As you say it, "Put your hands on your stomach and feel the contraction," says Jonathan Angelilli, a personal trainer in New York City. "That's your transverse abdominus and diaphragm contracting, creating tension in the core and strengthening your extremities." The louder your "sshhh," the better. It's most effective for core stabilization exercises such as squats, push-ups, and Pilates moves. Angelilli says, "'Sshhh' also helps you breathe with your abs. Stress, [poor] posture at work, and sitting too much over-activates our secondary breathing muscles in the neck and inhibits our primary abdominal breathing muscles." Saying "sshhh" oxygenates the body, increases strength, tones abs, and reduces neck tension.

Beware the hump.
Most of us work our "sexy" muscles: the chest, the shoulders and the arms. "This neglects the upper back, where many of us have a distinctive hump, manifested by forward-rounded, contracted shoulders and a forward-leaning neck," says Andrew Sherman, M.D., associate professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Miami. "This can lead to neck and shoulder pain." To fight the hump, stretch your chest muscles and do exercises that retract your shoulder and neck, such as rows, front lat pull downs, and upward dumbbell flys. "Don't forget to stick out your chest while doing them!" says Dr. Sherman.

Run barefoot.
According to proponents of shoeless running, shoes inhibit foot growth, development, and flexibility. David Jenkins, D.P.M., professor at Midwestern University's Arizona Podiatric Medicine Program, says, "Running barefoot may increase foot flexibility and strengthen intrinsic foot muscles. This can improve toe function, balance, and structural support, but more research is necessary." Running barefoot could decrease the likelihood of plantar fasciitis, a running epidemic unknown 30 years ago, which is possibly caused by over-controlling shoes and/or orthotic arch supports used on normal feet, says Dr. Jenkins. "A gradual buildup to barefoot sports is imperative," says Dr. Jenkins. "Barefoot running is an extreme change for people who have worn shoes most of the time." Of course, be careful to watch for hazards like broken glass and rocks when running shoeless.

Kick and shout!
IntenSati is "moving meditation"—a fitness program that uses the voice and mind to intensify physical workouts. Participants chant or shout empowering affirmations while kicking, jumping or lunging. For example, while punching, they yell, "I. Am. Strong. Now!" IntenSati creator Patricia Moreno says, "The repetition of a single statement moves you into a state of focused awareness—it's a very powerful practice." She claims these motivational chants boost emotional strength, increase self-confidence, and distract participants from feeling fatigued, which increases the effectiveness of their workouts



American Idol News

Jennifer Hudson makes a return visit to American Idol for one night only
The Grammy- and Oscar-winning actress, singer and "Idol" alum taped a performance in front of the studio audience on Wednesday after the live broadcast had ended, says a person close to the show who did not want his or her name used because the person was not authorized to speak to reporters.

Hudson's appearance will air on an upcoming segment, the person says. It will be the 26-year-old superstar's first time as a performer on the stage that made her famous since the slayings last year in Chicago of her mother, brother and 7-year-old nephew.
Hudson will likely sing a song from her self-titled debut CD, which won the Grammy for best R&B album in February. She was a finalist on the third season of "American Idol."

In other Idol News….

Simon Cowell told Jay Leno this week that President Obama called and wanted to have dinner with him recently, but Cowell said he couldn’t make it and had to decline the invitation.




Notre Dame Bishop Will NOT Attend University’s graduation Ceremony Because of President Obama’s Attendance

NOTRE DAME, Indiana, March 24, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The bishop of the diocese where the University of Notre Dame is located, Bishop John D'Arcy, released a statement this afternoon strongly criticizing the university's decision to invite President Obama to offer this year's commencement address and receive an honorary law degree on May 17. The bishop said that he would boycott the event.

This past Friday afternoon it was announced that President Obama had accepted the invitation put forward by the university. The announcement sparked a strong backlash from Catholics and Notre Dame alumni, who say that Obama's liberal policies on abortion, embryonic stem cell research and other social issues should preclude him from being honored at the prestigious Catholic university. As of Tuesday afternoon, a petition launched by the Cardinal Newman Society protesting against the president's appearance had been signed by over 75,000 people.

Bishop D'Arcy wrote that his decision to boycott the event is "not an attack on anyone, but is in defense of the truth about human life."

D'Arcy also explained that while he has "always revered the Office of the Presidency," and means no disrespect to the president, "a bishop must teach the Catholic faith 'in season and out of season,' and he teaches not only by his words — but by his actions."

Reflecting on a U.S. bishops' statement that stimpulates that Catholic institutions should not honor pro-abortion politicians, Bishop D'Arcy wrote: "Indeed, the measure of any Catholic institution is not only what it stands for, but also what it will not stand for."

The bishop said that he was not informed about the invitation until shortly before the White House announcement confirming Obama's acceptance Friday afternoon.
University president Fr. John Jenkins stated over the weekend that despite the protest he would not reconsider the invitation.