THE MORNING SHOW
on
SPIRIT FM
WITH
JIM & KAREN
jim@spiritfm.org
karen@spiritfm.org
PROMOTIONS
The Love Language of God – Hope for today’s Marriage Series – Part Two on Friday at 8a.m. If you missed last Friday’s initial broadcast you can download it off our website today! This Friday we talk about emotions.
Valentine’s Day Gift Basket Giveaway. CONGRATULATIONS TO KIM INGRAM and her husband, David of Salem ! Kim sent in the winning love letter and picked up our Valentine’s Day Gift Basket with chocolate products from DOVE Chocolate Discoveries. Com and Independent Chocolatier – Michele Sheppard.. The Fireproof DVD and The Love Dare Book and an overnight stay at the beautiful High Street Victorian Bed & Breakfast in Boonville, Mo.!
VALENTINE INTERESTING FACTS:
About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.
Teachers receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and then, sweethearts. Children ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine's with teachers, classmates, and family members.
Studies show about 65 percent of men do not make plans in advance for a romantic Valentine's Day with their sweethearts.
About 3% of pet owners will give Valentine's Day gifts to their pets.
Approximately 110 million roses, mostly red, are sold and delivered in the U.S. within a three-day time period before Valentine's Day.
Some people once believed, if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentine's Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. A goldfinch would mean a millionaire.
Also in the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names to see who their valentines would be. They would wear the names on their sleeves for one week. The phrase "to wear your heart on your sleeve" may have begun during that period..
KAREN’S STUPID VALENTINE’S JOKES
Q: What did the light bulb say to the switch?
A: You turn me on.
Q: Did Adam and Eve ever have a date?
A: No, but they had an apple.
Q: What did one snake say to the other snake?
A: Give me a little hug and a hiss, honey.
Knock, Knock,
Who's there?
Olive
Olive who?
Olive you!
LIFE CHANGING WORD
For the next forty days each morning we will feature something from the “Love Dare Book”
But receive this warning. This is a forty day journey and cannot be taken lightly. It is a challenging and difficult process, but an incredibly fulfilling one. To take this dare requires a resolute mind and a steadfast determination/ It is not meant to be sampled or briefly tested, and those who quit early will forfeit the greatest benefits. If you will commit to a day at a time for forty days, the results could change your life and your marriage.
DAY 5
Love is not rude.
He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be reckoned a curse to him. Proverbs 27:14
TODAY’S DARE:
Ask your spouse to tell you three things that cause him or her to be uncomfortable or irritated with you. You must do so without attacking them or justifying your behavior. This is from their perspective only.
TODAY IS…..
Today is Guys Don't Forget Tomorrow Is Valentine's Day Day. Also called Dream of Your Sweetheart Day.
Today is National Suck in Your Gut Day.
The Rev. Tony Leyva of West Palm Beach, Florida, set a world record on this day in 1977 by completing a 72-hour sermon. Rev. Leyva said he could have preached even longer, but a mysterious voice from heaven told him to sit down and be quiet.
Ironically, on the same day Homer Hashbrown, a member of Rev. Leyva's congregation, also set a world record by completing 71½ hours of continuous snoring.
IN THE NEWS…..
The Day the Muzak Died
Elevator music producer Muzak Holdings has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy... and you thought all the financial news these days was bad!
Happy birthday Gov. Sarah Palin — 45years old on Wednesday. I thought this was nice. She got a lovely card with $5 in it from John McCain. I’m not saying how old she is, but from her house, she can see 50.
Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, and White Castle is offering candlelight dinners to its customers. It’s perfect for the guy who has trouble saying, “I’m really not that into you!.”
Waffle House Taking Reservations For Valentine’s Day
ATLANTA -- Jennifer Payne was convinced no one would come to the Waffle House she managed for a Valentine's Day candle-lit dinner. She figured if they did it was because the guys were cheap.
For whatever reason, couples attended last year, and now the Norcross-based Waffle House plans to expand the offering to 32 of its restaurants, including 10 in the Atlanta area.
Pink signs will invite customers to "get scattered, smothered and covered" in romance.
Payne recalls being inundated with callers wanting reservations. There were three times as many customers for the event than the same shift on normal days.
Most couples passed on waffles and eggs and went for the eatery's high ticket items -- steak and chops.
Buy Jewelry for Your Sweetie For Valentine’s Day and get a FREE Gun!
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Some Valentine’s Day shoppers are getting the most bang for their buck, literally.
General Coin and Gun Exchange, a retail store in the north central part of the state, is offering quite a unique deal for diamond buyers.
If you buy a $400 pair of diamond earrings, you will also get a gun worth $300 for free.
"Everybody knows guys like guns and girls like diamonds so I figured I would mesh the two together this year. I've got women sending their husbands in," said Brian Zinn, the store’s owner.
Zinn said the more you spend on diamonds, the bigger the gun you will receive.
Zinn also said you do not need to be a resident of Wisconsin to get the free gun. However you must submit to a federal background check.
The deal runs through Feb. 14.
Lincoln's birthday
Hey, let's show one of our greatest presidents some love! Did you know Abe grew a beard for the 1860 presidential campaign after a little girl named GRACE BEDELL wrote him a letter telling him that all the ladies like whiskers and they'd tease their husbands to vote for him. So he became the first president to have a beard!
Try telling a candidate something like that today — they gotta have 18 different surveys and polls before they'll do anything!
An Internet Virus Warning:
Just in time for Valentine's Day — a new virus dressed in a cute puppy costume.According to McAfee, computer users are finding an email with two cute Shih Tzu puppies in their inbox. It wishes you a Happy Valentine's Day and prompts you to download the Valentine Devkit so you can get started at making a nicely designed Valentine card for your sweetie.Downloading Valentine Devkit will only install malware on your computer and unleash a host of problems.
The Height of a Woman’s Shoe Is An Indication of the State of the Economy:
You'll know if the economic stimulus plan is working by paying close attention to women's shoes. The London Sun pulled out the "stiletto index," which ties the economy to the size of the heels ladies wear. Fashion experts predict skyscraper heels will be big this year, which is very bad news. The last time they were in vogue was during the Great Depression of the 1930's. The stiletto index rule of thumb: the flatter the shoe, the better the economy.
Mike Huckabee Says Stimulus Plan is Anti-Religious
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee warned supporters Tuesday that the $828 billion stimulus package is “anti-religious.”
In an e-mail that was also posted on his blog ahead of the Senate’s passage, Huckabee wrote: “The dust is settling on the ‘bipartisan’ stimulus bill and one thing is clear: It is anti-religious.”
The former Republican presidential candidate pointed to a provision in both the House and Senate versions banning higher education funds in the bill from being used on a “school or department of divinity.”
“You would think the ACLU drafted this bill,” Huckabee said. “For all of the talk about bipartisanship, this Congress is blatantly liberal.”
“Emily’s List, radical environmental groups, etc. all have a seat at the decision making table in Washington these days,” he continued. “Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid are in charge and they are working with an equally ‘progressive’ President Obama (remember his voting record is more liberal than Ted Kennedy!).”
In the e-mail, Huckabee concedes that there is little that conservatives can do in the near term, but advocated mobilization to defeat those “masquerading as ‘conservative Democrats.’”
“This is the opening round of the Democrats’ campaign for big government,” he wrote. “We cannot afford to sit round one out, because if we do, they will only become more emboldened and their grab for power more audacious and damaging to our country and our freedoms.”
Roses Are Red…Retailers Are Blue:
Cupid-struck couples are expected to spend $20 less on each other this year, according to a survey conducted by BIGresearch for the National Retail Federation. On average, they'll spend $102.50 each, a 15.6% decrease from a year ago.
"Valentine's Day will be the first major holiday of 2009 to feel the economic pinch," says Robert Passikoff, president of New York-based Brand Keys, a consumer- and brand-focused research consultancy.
This year, $14.7 billion will be spent on Valentine's Day-related purchases, according to BIGresearch. Nearly 91% of people will spend the most, an average $67.22, on their significant other, with other family members such as children getting about one-fifth of the budget, $20.95. A few dollars will be spent on: friends, $4.74; children's classmates and teachers, $3.59; co-workers, $1.94; and pets, $2.17.
American Idol Contestant Disqualified:
An "American Idol" contestant who made the show's top 36 was disqualified. In its press released issued Wednesday night announcing the 36 contenders, Fox TV said that Joanna Pacitti was "ineligible to continue." No reason was given. Felicia Barton of Virginia Beach, Va., replaced Pacitti, a Philadelphia native, in the top 36.
The show announced the semifinalists Wednesday night, then later released an update saying it had cut Pacitti loose and subbed in Barton, a 26-year-old married mom.
Pacitti, 23, could not immediately be reached for comment.
A few of the contestants in Tuesday night's episode, including Pacitti, flubbed the lyrics but made it through to the next round.
Pacitti, who auditioned in Louisville, Ky., entered "Idol" with a showbiz resume. She had a record deal with Geffen and released an album in 2006. Billboard reports it sold more than 16,000 copies. "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi recognized Pacitti when she auditioned in Louisville, Ky.
She also starred in "Annie" on Broadway as a young girl, and sang on the soundtracks for the movies "Legally Blonde" and "Bratz." Britney Spears' tune "Out From Under," from her latest album, was first performed by Pacitti on the "Bratz" soundtrack.
All that experience was enough to draw complaints from viewers who thought she was too polished for the top-rated show, which purports to pluck raw talent out of nowhere and turn them into stars.
However, eight seasons in, "Idol" has selected singers who have spent time in the recording studio.
Pacitti's situation echoed the controversy over last season's finalists, Carly Smithson and Kristy Lee Cook, who had previous record deals.
Smithson had recorded an album for MCA Records, while Cook once had a deal with Arista Nashville. Other experienced seventh-season singers include Robbie Carrico, who was in the pop group Boyz N Girlz United, and runner-up David Archuleta, who won "Star Search" in 2003.
17th Annual Movieguide® Faith and Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California was held Wednesday night.
But this was not your usual awards ceremony sponsored by the Christian Film & Television Commission®, as it honored the “good and uplifting” in film and television from last year.
Hosted by Dr. Ted Baehr, chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission and publisher of Movieguide®, it was standing room only as the winners were announced at what some have called “The Christian Oscars.”
Winner of the $100,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie of 2008, sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation – FIREPROOF from Samuel Goldwyn Films and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Other movie nominees: THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN from Walden Media and Walt Disney Pictures, GRAN TORINO from Warner Bros. Pictures, HENRY POOLE IS HERE from Overture Films of Starz Entertainment, THE LONGSHOTS from MGM, and TYLER PERRY’S THE FAMILY THAT PREYS from Lionsgate Films.
The $100,000 movie prize is equally divided among the people in the following five categories – the director, the credited writer(s), the producer(s), the executive producer(s), and the senior motion picture studio executive responsible for production.
Winner of the $100,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring TV Program of 2008 sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation – “The Christmas Choir,” telecast by The Hallmark Channel
Best Movie for Families – WALL-E from Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures
** The Ten Best 2008 Movies for Families **
1. WALL-E
2. FIREPROOF
3. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN
4. BOLT
5. JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 3D
6. NIM’S ISLAND
7. KUNG FU PANDA
8. THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX
9. MADAGASCAR: ESCAPE 2 AFRICA
10. HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3: SENIOR YEAR
The Faith and Freedom Award for Promoting Positive American Values in 2007
Winner for Movies – EXPELLED: NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED from Rocky Mountain Pictures
FIREPROOF IS STILL MAKING AN IMPACT
The movie that came in # 4 at the boxoffice the weekend it opened last September….
Came in # 2 in DVD sales the first week it was out
And now…is the most rented DVD in the country right now.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Sunday, February 8, 2009
THE MORNING SHOW
ON
SPIRIT FM
WITH
JIM & KAREN
jim@spiritfm.org
karen@spiritfm.org
PROMOTIONS:
The Love Language of God – Hope for today’s Marriage Series – Part Two on Friday at 8 a.m. If you missed last Friday’s initial broadcast you can download it off our website today!
Valentine’s Day Gift Basket Giveaway. Basket is filled with delicious Dove Chocolate products compliments of Dove Chocolate Discoveries.com and Independent Chocolatier, Michelle Sheppard. The Fireproof DVD and Love Dare Book AND an overnight stay at the gorgeous High Street Victorian bed & Breakfast in Boonville, Mo.
Send us a love letter you have written to your spouse by February 11th. We will select a winner from all of the letters we receive and read that love letter on the air on February 12th. Plus, the winning letter writer will receive the gift basket to share with their special Valentine! You can email your letter to Karen@spiritfm.org or you can snail mail them to Spirit FM P.O. Box 800 Camdenton, Mo. 65020.
LIFE CHANGING WORD
For the next forty days each morning we will feature something from the “Love Dare Book”
But receive this warning. This is a forty day journey and cannot be taken lightly. It is a challenging and difficult process, but an incredibly fulfilling one. To take this dare requires a resolute mind and a steadfast determination/ It is not meant to be sampled or briefly tested, and those who quit early will forfeit the greatest benefits. If you will commit to a day at a time for forty days, the results could change your life and your marriage.
DAY 1
Love is patient.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 NIV
The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often refelct the condition of our hearts. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It’s better to hold your tongue than to say something you will regret.
TODAY IS….
This is National Pay Your Bills Week. I didn’t know we only had to do this once a year!!!
International Flirting Week begins today.
Today is Read in the Bathtub Day. Read a novel a year in the bathtub. Try not to drop the book.
Today is Fish & Wildlife Day. The U.S. Fish Protection Office, the forerunner of the Fish & Wildlife Service, was established on February 9, 1871.
Just Say No to PowerPoint Week begins today, time to challenge business speakers to communicate with their audiences rather than just to read slide after boring slide.
Today is National Bagels and Lox Day.
1953: "The Adventures of Superman" debuted in television syndication. In the original episode, with destruction of the planet Krypton eminent, Jor-El and his wife Lara sent their infant son Kal-El to Earth in a small rocket, where he was discovered and reared by Eben and Sarah Kent. They named their adopted son Clark.
1964: The G.I. Joe doll debuted.
1964: In their first live American TV appearance, the Beatles drew 73.7-million viewers to The Ed Sullivan Show. They were paid $2,400 to sing "All My Loving," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You," "I Saw Her Standing There," and "I Want To Hold Your Hand." American parents thought the group was crude, outrageous, loud, and had no talent at all. In other words, they were a smash hit. As a parent today..oh how I wish the Beatles were still around.
1987: Twenty years after the first woman was admitted to the New York Stock Exchange, the Exchange Luncheon Club decided to install a ladies rest room. For 20 years the ladies had to walk downstairs to find a ladies room.
William Henry Harrison, the 9th U.S. president, was born on this day in 1841. Harrison contracted pneumonia during his inauguration The bad news….He died after serving only 32 days in office. The good news….Of all U.S. presidents, he made the fewest mistakes.
IN THE NEWS….
Mom of Octuplets Gives First Interview
NADYA SULEMAN, that California woman who had octuplets, reportedly, she's already had her first interview, this one with ANN CURRY of NBC's Today show. One of her hastily hired publicists says the mom was not paid for the interview and currently is staying at "an undisclosed location." The interview is a small part of the main interview, which is scheduled to air Today. "Dateline" will also air a portion on Tuesday.
The U.S. Senate
worked late through the weekend trying to make a compromise on the stimulus spending plan. Although I’m not sure sure they were really working on the stimulus plan or if President Obama made all of them double check their recent tax returns!
Speaking of…..
Last week in Washington, President Obama took time out from his busy schedule to read a book to a group of second graders. It was a fairytale about a Cabinet nominee who once paid all his taxes.
You know what all these tax issues prove? Some love to raise taxes..they just don’t like paying them.
$500,000 of Tax Payer Money Went for a Luxury Planning Session
It came out today that the House Democratic Caucus spent $500,000 of taxpayer money for retreats at luxury resorts and spas . . . though Democrats say that the time was used for “strategic planning for the country.” Really? Then what is the Capitol building for?
Ginsburg in SurgerySupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer. The Obama administration is monitoring the situation and desperately looking for qualified judges who have actually paid all their taxes.
Largest Fossil Discovered
Scientists have discovered the fossil of a prehistoric 42-foot-long python. They believe this is the biggest snake in the world — well, if you don’t count Bernie Madoff.
For the “Tech-Savvy” Child in Your Life…
The free new iPhone App, Doodle Kids, has been downloaded more than 4,000 times from Apple’s iTunes Store. It allows users to draw on the screen, and clear or save the pictures, which look kind of like those rainbow scrape art things kids do through a black background. And kids would be the operative term here: Reuters reports the creator of Doodle Kids is 9-year-old LIM DING WEN of Singapore, who came up with the app to entertain his artistically-inclined pre-school-aged sisters. Little Lim is already fluent in six programming languages, and creates iPhone apps as a game inspired by his dad, who is a CTO who’s come up with a couple apps of his own. (Isn’t this basically an Etch-A-Sketch”?)
I Think I Will Just Continue My Workout At Curves Thank you!
A Croatian man has lost 160 pounds in just six months - on a diet of garlic and onions. Momir Zmiric was told by doctors he could die if he didn't lose weight. He tried several diets without success but then started living off garlic and onions - on a plain biscuit - with carrot juice. That did the trick. Doctors have warned against the radical diet and a friend of Momir's said: "He looks great - but his breath is really rancid." Now he is on a steady diet of Listerine and Tic-Tacs!!
Recession-battered employers eliminated 598,000 jobs in January, the most since the end of 1974, and catapulted the unemployment rate to 7.6 percent.
The grim figures were further proof that the nation's job climate is deteriorating at an alarming clip with no end in sight.
As people look for new jobs they must be alert to the slogans in job adds and what they really mean. Here is an example
"Competitive Salary" - We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.
"Join Our Fast Paced Company" - We have no time to train you.
"Casual Work Atmosphere" - We don't pay enough to expect that you will dress up.
"Must be Deadline Oriented" - You will be six months behind schedule on your first day.
"Some Overtime Required" - Some time each night, some time each weekend.
"Duties will Vary" - Anyone in the office can boss you around.
"Seeking Candidates with a Wide Variety of Experience" - You will need to replace three people who just left.
...and last but not least...
"Requires Team Leadership Skills" - You will have the responsibilities of a manager without the pay or respect.
What’s The Strangest Thing You Have Ever Done to Avoid A Trip To The Dentist?
A man in England pulled his own teeth out with a pair of pliers because he couldn't afford a dentist. Ian Boynton took out 13 of his teeth that were giving him severe pain. The 42-year-old, from Beverley, hadn't had his teeth checked since seeing the army dentist in 2003. In the last two years Mr Boynton has pulled out 13 top teeth including molars, incisors and canines and has only two left in the roof of his mouth. He has now finally found a dentist to take him on.
Personally, I have pulled a couple of my own teeth…and I have lived with a piece of gum crammed into a cavity hole in my mouth for several days in order to avoid going to the dentist. Sad..but true.
Seven Grocery Items To Cut From The List That Will Help You Save Money
Cut the following out and you’ll your bill down immediately:
Bagged salad — These can be a time-saver, but they can cost three times as much as buying the same amount as an ordinary head of lettuce. “Salad kits,” where you get some greens, a small bag of dressing, and a small bag of croutons — are even more expensive.
Energy or protein bars — They’re often stacked at the checkout counter for impulse buyers who grab them for a quick health fix. They are high in sugar and fat and about as “wholesome” as a candy bar. They’re also two to three times as expensive.
Spice mixes — Things like grill seasoning and rib rubs might seem like a good buy because they contain spices that you would have to buy individually. But once again, it pays to read labels. Usually the first ingredient you see is salt, followed by a few herbs and spices. Look in your own pantry; you’ll be surprised to discover just how many herbs you already have on hand.
Bottled water — This is a bad investment for many reasons. It’s expensive compared to what’s coming out of the tap, its cost to the environment is high, and it’s often no better for your health than what’s running down your drain.
Boxed rice “entree” or side-dish mixes — These consist basically of rice, salt, and spices — yet they’re priced way beyond the ingredients sold individually. Yes, there are a few flavorings included, but again, you probably have them in your pantry. Buy a bag of brown rice, measure out what you need, add your own herbs and other seasonings, and voila! You’ve just saved some money, and prepared something that likely tastes better than what you were going to buy.
Pre-formed meat patties — These are handy, but they’re more expensive than buying the ground meat in bulk and making patties yourself.
Tomato-based pasta sauces – These may run $2 to $6 a jar, while the equivalent amount of canned tomatoes is often under $1. So, try making your own sauces from canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes. Put the tomatoes into a skillet, stir in some wine or wine vinegar, your favorite herbs, and whatever chopped vegetables you like in your sauce—garlic, peppers, onions, mushrooms, even carrots—and let simmer for an hour. Easy!
Avoiding these cashtraps will make a real difference in how much you spend each week. This has an impact on you as a consumer, but what about the flip side — what does the change in grocery store habits mean to American companies?
The latest earnings reports just arrived for several large consumer product companies, including Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG), Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB), and Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL). Laundry detergent, diapers, toothpaste, and other staples are all expected to suffer as consumers cut costs by avoiding cashtraps and by purchasing store brands instead of name brands where they can.
Joel Osteen Warns About Pork
Pastor Joel Osteen gives an amazing sermon about pork and shellfish. He made changes to his own diet, not just for health reasons, but also to honor God:
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/cityofbrass/2009/02/pastor-joel-osteen-warns-about.html
Here’s Some Encouraging News….Do You Know Which Six Mega Companies Were Found During Economic Hard Times?
Think a recession is a bad time to start a company? Imagine if the founders of these major corporations had thought the same...
Proctor & Gamble
IBM
General Electric
General Motors
United Technoligies
FedEx
Just In Time For Valentine’s Day…CHOCOLATE TOURS!!! Yum!!
(CNN) -- Romances come and go, but many a gourmand is in it for life with that addictive cocoa concoction, chocolate.
Luxury Paris chocolate tour participants are likely to taste sweets from chocolatiers such as Jean-Charles Rochoux.
And the love affair is no secret. From Paris to San Francisco, chocolate tours are connecting visitors with delectable treats and insider information about what goes into crafting irresistible sweets.
So cave in to your cravings, take a tour and learn a thing or two about chocolate along the way.
San Francisco Gourmet Chocolate Tour
Chocoholics on this Gourmet Walks tour are likely to sample unusual infusions -- such as star anise and pink peppercorn chocolate -- at Recchiuti Confections, a small shop in San Francisco's Ferry Building showcasing exquisite hand-crafted confections.
Tour stops also include a shop that carries more than 225 chocolate bars from 15 countries and a visit to Scharffen Berger for a taste of their 70 percent bar, billed by the founders as the "perfect chocolate bar."
Gourmet Walks founder Andrea Nadel says it's best to taste on an empty stomach, using bread or crackers as a palate cleanser. Another tip: Don't store chocolate in the refrigerator or close to foods like onions or garlic.
Standard tours are offered three times a week; tickets are $49. Additional tours will be available Valentine's Day weekend, including a Chocolate for Lovers package for $150 per couple, which includes T-shirts, a bottle of port and Chocolove bars.
Boston Chocolate Trolley Tour
The first stop on this three-hour Old Town Trolley Tour has visitors perched 52 floors up at Top of the Hub in the Prudential Center for a decadent chocolate dessert and sweeping views of the city.
The tour also stops at the Omni Parker House Hotel, home of the Boston cream pie. After sampling the pie, chocoholics buckle down at the chocolate bar buffet at the Langham Hotel.
Tours are conducted on Saturdays. Tickets are $80.
Chicago Chocolate Tours
Chicago Chocolate Tours offers tasting trails in the Loop, Magnificent Mile and Andersonville neighborhoods. Started by Harvard grad Valerie Beck, "who used to practice law and is now happy," the tours will provide guests with nuggets about the history and health benefits of chocolate, as well as more treats than most people can finish, according to its Web site.
On February 13, a special Chocolate and Champagne Girls' Night Out ($50) includes visits to three sweet shops, a goody bag and a champagne toast at the Signature Room, which overlooks the city from the towering John Hancock Building.
Regular tours are available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Standard tour tickets are $40 each.
New York Chocolate Tours
From the Upper East Side's exclusive international labels to SoHo's new wave chocolatiers, this outfit offers a taste of heaven to the sophisticated chocoholic.
The three-hour Union Square tour melds the history and culture of the area with chocolate, pastry and wine pairings.
Tours are offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Upper East Side and SoHo tours are $70; the chocolate and wine tour is $80.
Paris Chocolate Adventure
This weeklong gourmet adventure, hosted by chocolate experts David Lebovitz ("The Great Book of Chocolate") and Mort Rosenblum ("Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Light and Dark") is a serious caloric and monetary splurge.
The package, including six nights in a deluxe four-star hotel with breakfast, plus four lunches, five dinners with wine and all events and transportation, runs 3,295 euros ($4,200) per person for an April 26 to May 2 stay.
The trip, limited to nine guests, is offered each year in May. This year, the organizers added the April departure.
A private tasting at La Maison du Chocolat, visits to local markets, lunches and dinners at Lebovitz and Rosenblum's favorite Parisian bistros and a delicious cruise aboard Rosenblum's houseboat on the Seine are among the week's activities.
Want to Read A Great Article on How Television Affects Our Kids?
Everything from risky behavior to obesity.
· Research has shown that children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.
· Kids who view violent events, such as a kidnapping or murder, are also more likely to believe that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.
· Research also indicates that TV consistently reinforces gender-role and racial stereotypes.
Click Here:
http://health.msn.com/kids-health/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100151147>1=31045&vv=650
Papa John’s Founder Says ‘Don’t Eat Too Much Pizza”
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The founder of one of America's largest pizza chains has offered unexpected advice to his customers to limit themselves to only one or two slices.
Pizza is not normally known for its health benefits; thick, cheesy toppings push up the calorie count.
During an interview on BBC's Radio Four program in the United Kingdom, John Schnatter, said, "you can't eat five or six slices."
He was responding to a question from presenter Adam Shaw about whether he was concerned about the impact of the British government's anti-obesity drive on pizza sales.
"No. Pizza's actually healthy for you if you don't eat too much of it," Schnatter replied, adding, "You can't eat five or six slices but if you eat one or two slices it's very nutritious."
The pizza chain boss had just finished telling BBC listeners that the UK market was a "huge priority for Papa John's International."
The company has 118 outlets in the United Kingdom, its second biggest market outside the U.S. after China.
Sales in the UK jumped 60% on Monday alone after heavy snowfalls were estimated to have encouraged around one in five workers to stay at home.
Schnatter is in the United Kingdom for the annual franchisee conference, a marketing tool to encourage more small business owners to buy into the Papa John's brand.
While it's impossible to know whether his comments have dissuaded anyone from investing in the company, BBC presenter Shaw suggested shareholders might take issue with his suggestion.
"I'm not sure your investors would want to hear you tell people don't eat too much of our pizzas," he laughed before thanking Schnatter for his time.
Schnatter opened his first shop in 1985, after selling his beloved Camaro to buy his first pizza oven. There are now more than 3000 restaurants worldwide.
ON
SPIRIT FM
WITH
JIM & KAREN
jim@spiritfm.org
karen@spiritfm.org
PROMOTIONS:
The Love Language of God – Hope for today’s Marriage Series – Part Two on Friday at 8 a.m. If you missed last Friday’s initial broadcast you can download it off our website today!
Valentine’s Day Gift Basket Giveaway. Basket is filled with delicious Dove Chocolate products compliments of Dove Chocolate Discoveries.com and Independent Chocolatier, Michelle Sheppard. The Fireproof DVD and Love Dare Book AND an overnight stay at the gorgeous High Street Victorian bed & Breakfast in Boonville, Mo.
Send us a love letter you have written to your spouse by February 11th. We will select a winner from all of the letters we receive and read that love letter on the air on February 12th. Plus, the winning letter writer will receive the gift basket to share with their special Valentine! You can email your letter to Karen@spiritfm.org or you can snail mail them to Spirit FM P.O. Box 800 Camdenton, Mo. 65020.
LIFE CHANGING WORD
For the next forty days each morning we will feature something from the “Love Dare Book”
But receive this warning. This is a forty day journey and cannot be taken lightly. It is a challenging and difficult process, but an incredibly fulfilling one. To take this dare requires a resolute mind and a steadfast determination/ It is not meant to be sampled or briefly tested, and those who quit early will forfeit the greatest benefits. If you will commit to a day at a time for forty days, the results could change your life and your marriage.
DAY 1
Love is patient.
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 NIV
The first part of this dare is fairly simple. Although love is communicated in a number of ways, our words often refelct the condition of our hearts. For the next day, resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to your spouse at all. If the temptation arises, choose not to say anything. It’s better to hold your tongue than to say something you will regret.
TODAY IS….
This is National Pay Your Bills Week. I didn’t know we only had to do this once a year!!!
International Flirting Week begins today.
Today is Read in the Bathtub Day. Read a novel a year in the bathtub. Try not to drop the book.
Today is Fish & Wildlife Day. The U.S. Fish Protection Office, the forerunner of the Fish & Wildlife Service, was established on February 9, 1871.
Just Say No to PowerPoint Week begins today, time to challenge business speakers to communicate with their audiences rather than just to read slide after boring slide.
Today is National Bagels and Lox Day.
1953: "The Adventures of Superman" debuted in television syndication. In the original episode, with destruction of the planet Krypton eminent, Jor-El and his wife Lara sent their infant son Kal-El to Earth in a small rocket, where he was discovered and reared by Eben and Sarah Kent. They named their adopted son Clark.
1964: The G.I. Joe doll debuted.
1964: In their first live American TV appearance, the Beatles drew 73.7-million viewers to The Ed Sullivan Show. They were paid $2,400 to sing "All My Loving," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You," "I Saw Her Standing There," and "I Want To Hold Your Hand." American parents thought the group was crude, outrageous, loud, and had no talent at all. In other words, they were a smash hit. As a parent today..oh how I wish the Beatles were still around.
1987: Twenty years after the first woman was admitted to the New York Stock Exchange, the Exchange Luncheon Club decided to install a ladies rest room. For 20 years the ladies had to walk downstairs to find a ladies room.
William Henry Harrison, the 9th U.S. president, was born on this day in 1841. Harrison contracted pneumonia during his inauguration The bad news….He died after serving only 32 days in office. The good news….Of all U.S. presidents, he made the fewest mistakes.
IN THE NEWS….
Mom of Octuplets Gives First Interview
NADYA SULEMAN, that California woman who had octuplets, reportedly, she's already had her first interview, this one with ANN CURRY of NBC's Today show. One of her hastily hired publicists says the mom was not paid for the interview and currently is staying at "an undisclosed location." The interview is a small part of the main interview, which is scheduled to air Today. "Dateline" will also air a portion on Tuesday.
The U.S. Senate
worked late through the weekend trying to make a compromise on the stimulus spending plan. Although I’m not sure sure they were really working on the stimulus plan or if President Obama made all of them double check their recent tax returns!
Speaking of…..
Last week in Washington, President Obama took time out from his busy schedule to read a book to a group of second graders. It was a fairytale about a Cabinet nominee who once paid all his taxes.
You know what all these tax issues prove? Some love to raise taxes..they just don’t like paying them.
$500,000 of Tax Payer Money Went for a Luxury Planning Session
It came out today that the House Democratic Caucus spent $500,000 of taxpayer money for retreats at luxury resorts and spas . . . though Democrats say that the time was used for “strategic planning for the country.” Really? Then what is the Capitol building for?
Ginsburg in SurgerySupreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer. The Obama administration is monitoring the situation and desperately looking for qualified judges who have actually paid all their taxes.
Largest Fossil Discovered
Scientists have discovered the fossil of a prehistoric 42-foot-long python. They believe this is the biggest snake in the world — well, if you don’t count Bernie Madoff.
For the “Tech-Savvy” Child in Your Life…
The free new iPhone App, Doodle Kids, has been downloaded more than 4,000 times from Apple’s iTunes Store. It allows users to draw on the screen, and clear or save the pictures, which look kind of like those rainbow scrape art things kids do through a black background. And kids would be the operative term here: Reuters reports the creator of Doodle Kids is 9-year-old LIM DING WEN of Singapore, who came up with the app to entertain his artistically-inclined pre-school-aged sisters. Little Lim is already fluent in six programming languages, and creates iPhone apps as a game inspired by his dad, who is a CTO who’s come up with a couple apps of his own. (Isn’t this basically an Etch-A-Sketch”?)
I Think I Will Just Continue My Workout At Curves Thank you!
A Croatian man has lost 160 pounds in just six months - on a diet of garlic and onions. Momir Zmiric was told by doctors he could die if he didn't lose weight. He tried several diets without success but then started living off garlic and onions - on a plain biscuit - with carrot juice. That did the trick. Doctors have warned against the radical diet and a friend of Momir's said: "He looks great - but his breath is really rancid." Now he is on a steady diet of Listerine and Tic-Tacs!!
Recession-battered employers eliminated 598,000 jobs in January, the most since the end of 1974, and catapulted the unemployment rate to 7.6 percent.
The grim figures were further proof that the nation's job climate is deteriorating at an alarming clip with no end in sight.
As people look for new jobs they must be alert to the slogans in job adds and what they really mean. Here is an example
"Competitive Salary" - We remain competitive by paying less than our competitors.
"Join Our Fast Paced Company" - We have no time to train you.
"Casual Work Atmosphere" - We don't pay enough to expect that you will dress up.
"Must be Deadline Oriented" - You will be six months behind schedule on your first day.
"Some Overtime Required" - Some time each night, some time each weekend.
"Duties will Vary" - Anyone in the office can boss you around.
"Seeking Candidates with a Wide Variety of Experience" - You will need to replace three people who just left.
...and last but not least...
"Requires Team Leadership Skills" - You will have the responsibilities of a manager without the pay or respect.
What’s The Strangest Thing You Have Ever Done to Avoid A Trip To The Dentist?
A man in England pulled his own teeth out with a pair of pliers because he couldn't afford a dentist. Ian Boynton took out 13 of his teeth that were giving him severe pain. The 42-year-old, from Beverley, hadn't had his teeth checked since seeing the army dentist in 2003. In the last two years Mr Boynton has pulled out 13 top teeth including molars, incisors and canines and has only two left in the roof of his mouth. He has now finally found a dentist to take him on.
Personally, I have pulled a couple of my own teeth…and I have lived with a piece of gum crammed into a cavity hole in my mouth for several days in order to avoid going to the dentist. Sad..but true.
Seven Grocery Items To Cut From The List That Will Help You Save Money
Cut the following out and you’ll your bill down immediately:
Bagged salad — These can be a time-saver, but they can cost three times as much as buying the same amount as an ordinary head of lettuce. “Salad kits,” where you get some greens, a small bag of dressing, and a small bag of croutons — are even more expensive.
Energy or protein bars — They’re often stacked at the checkout counter for impulse buyers who grab them for a quick health fix. They are high in sugar and fat and about as “wholesome” as a candy bar. They’re also two to three times as expensive.
Spice mixes — Things like grill seasoning and rib rubs might seem like a good buy because they contain spices that you would have to buy individually. But once again, it pays to read labels. Usually the first ingredient you see is salt, followed by a few herbs and spices. Look in your own pantry; you’ll be surprised to discover just how many herbs you already have on hand.
Bottled water — This is a bad investment for many reasons. It’s expensive compared to what’s coming out of the tap, its cost to the environment is high, and it’s often no better for your health than what’s running down your drain.
Boxed rice “entree” or side-dish mixes — These consist basically of rice, salt, and spices — yet they’re priced way beyond the ingredients sold individually. Yes, there are a few flavorings included, but again, you probably have them in your pantry. Buy a bag of brown rice, measure out what you need, add your own herbs and other seasonings, and voila! You’ve just saved some money, and prepared something that likely tastes better than what you were going to buy.
Pre-formed meat patties — These are handy, but they’re more expensive than buying the ground meat in bulk and making patties yourself.
Tomato-based pasta sauces – These may run $2 to $6 a jar, while the equivalent amount of canned tomatoes is often under $1. So, try making your own sauces from canned crushed tomatoes or fresh tomatoes. Put the tomatoes into a skillet, stir in some wine or wine vinegar, your favorite herbs, and whatever chopped vegetables you like in your sauce—garlic, peppers, onions, mushrooms, even carrots—and let simmer for an hour. Easy!
Avoiding these cashtraps will make a real difference in how much you spend each week. This has an impact on you as a consumer, but what about the flip side — what does the change in grocery store habits mean to American companies?
The latest earnings reports just arrived for several large consumer product companies, including Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG), Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB), and Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL). Laundry detergent, diapers, toothpaste, and other staples are all expected to suffer as consumers cut costs by avoiding cashtraps and by purchasing store brands instead of name brands where they can.
Joel Osteen Warns About Pork
Pastor Joel Osteen gives an amazing sermon about pork and shellfish. He made changes to his own diet, not just for health reasons, but also to honor God:
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/cityofbrass/2009/02/pastor-joel-osteen-warns-about.html
Here’s Some Encouraging News….Do You Know Which Six Mega Companies Were Found During Economic Hard Times?
Think a recession is a bad time to start a company? Imagine if the founders of these major corporations had thought the same...
Proctor & Gamble
IBM
General Electric
General Motors
United Technoligies
FedEx
Just In Time For Valentine’s Day…CHOCOLATE TOURS!!! Yum!!
(CNN) -- Romances come and go, but many a gourmand is in it for life with that addictive cocoa concoction, chocolate.
Luxury Paris chocolate tour participants are likely to taste sweets from chocolatiers such as Jean-Charles Rochoux.
And the love affair is no secret. From Paris to San Francisco, chocolate tours are connecting visitors with delectable treats and insider information about what goes into crafting irresistible sweets.
So cave in to your cravings, take a tour and learn a thing or two about chocolate along the way.
San Francisco Gourmet Chocolate Tour
Chocoholics on this Gourmet Walks tour are likely to sample unusual infusions -- such as star anise and pink peppercorn chocolate -- at Recchiuti Confections, a small shop in San Francisco's Ferry Building showcasing exquisite hand-crafted confections.
Tour stops also include a shop that carries more than 225 chocolate bars from 15 countries and a visit to Scharffen Berger for a taste of their 70 percent bar, billed by the founders as the "perfect chocolate bar."
Gourmet Walks founder Andrea Nadel says it's best to taste on an empty stomach, using bread or crackers as a palate cleanser. Another tip: Don't store chocolate in the refrigerator or close to foods like onions or garlic.
Standard tours are offered three times a week; tickets are $49. Additional tours will be available Valentine's Day weekend, including a Chocolate for Lovers package for $150 per couple, which includes T-shirts, a bottle of port and Chocolove bars.
Boston Chocolate Trolley Tour
The first stop on this three-hour Old Town Trolley Tour has visitors perched 52 floors up at Top of the Hub in the Prudential Center for a decadent chocolate dessert and sweeping views of the city.
The tour also stops at the Omni Parker House Hotel, home of the Boston cream pie. After sampling the pie, chocoholics buckle down at the chocolate bar buffet at the Langham Hotel.
Tours are conducted on Saturdays. Tickets are $80.
Chicago Chocolate Tours
Chicago Chocolate Tours offers tasting trails in the Loop, Magnificent Mile and Andersonville neighborhoods. Started by Harvard grad Valerie Beck, "who used to practice law and is now happy," the tours will provide guests with nuggets about the history and health benefits of chocolate, as well as more treats than most people can finish, according to its Web site.
On February 13, a special Chocolate and Champagne Girls' Night Out ($50) includes visits to three sweet shops, a goody bag and a champagne toast at the Signature Room, which overlooks the city from the towering John Hancock Building.
Regular tours are available every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Standard tour tickets are $40 each.
New York Chocolate Tours
From the Upper East Side's exclusive international labels to SoHo's new wave chocolatiers, this outfit offers a taste of heaven to the sophisticated chocoholic.
The three-hour Union Square tour melds the history and culture of the area with chocolate, pastry and wine pairings.
Tours are offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Upper East Side and SoHo tours are $70; the chocolate and wine tour is $80.
Paris Chocolate Adventure
This weeklong gourmet adventure, hosted by chocolate experts David Lebovitz ("The Great Book of Chocolate") and Mort Rosenblum ("Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Light and Dark") is a serious caloric and monetary splurge.
The package, including six nights in a deluxe four-star hotel with breakfast, plus four lunches, five dinners with wine and all events and transportation, runs 3,295 euros ($4,200) per person for an April 26 to May 2 stay.
The trip, limited to nine guests, is offered each year in May. This year, the organizers added the April departure.
A private tasting at La Maison du Chocolat, visits to local markets, lunches and dinners at Lebovitz and Rosenblum's favorite Parisian bistros and a delicious cruise aboard Rosenblum's houseboat on the Seine are among the week's activities.
Want to Read A Great Article on How Television Affects Our Kids?
Everything from risky behavior to obesity.
· Research has shown that children who consistently spend more than 4 hours per day watching TV are more likely to be overweight.
· Kids who view violent events, such as a kidnapping or murder, are also more likely to believe that the world is scary and that something bad will happen to them.
· Research also indicates that TV consistently reinforces gender-role and racial stereotypes.
Click Here:
http://health.msn.com/kids-health/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100151147>1=31045&vv=650
Papa John’s Founder Says ‘Don’t Eat Too Much Pizza”
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The founder of one of America's largest pizza chains has offered unexpected advice to his customers to limit themselves to only one or two slices.
Pizza is not normally known for its health benefits; thick, cheesy toppings push up the calorie count.
During an interview on BBC's Radio Four program in the United Kingdom, John Schnatter, said, "you can't eat five or six slices."
He was responding to a question from presenter Adam Shaw about whether he was concerned about the impact of the British government's anti-obesity drive on pizza sales.
"No. Pizza's actually healthy for you if you don't eat too much of it," Schnatter replied, adding, "You can't eat five or six slices but if you eat one or two slices it's very nutritious."
The pizza chain boss had just finished telling BBC listeners that the UK market was a "huge priority for Papa John's International."
The company has 118 outlets in the United Kingdom, its second biggest market outside the U.S. after China.
Sales in the UK jumped 60% on Monday alone after heavy snowfalls were estimated to have encouraged around one in five workers to stay at home.
Schnatter is in the United Kingdom for the annual franchisee conference, a marketing tool to encourage more small business owners to buy into the Papa John's brand.
While it's impossible to know whether his comments have dissuaded anyone from investing in the company, BBC presenter Shaw suggested shareholders might take issue with his suggestion.
"I'm not sure your investors would want to hear you tell people don't eat too much of our pizzas," he laughed before thanking Schnatter for his time.
Schnatter opened his first shop in 1985, after selling his beloved Camaro to buy his first pizza oven. There are now more than 3000 restaurants worldwide.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
THE MORNING SHOW
ON
SPIRIT FM
WITH
JIM & KAREN
The Love Language of God – Hope for today’s Marriage
Series kicks off today at 8 a.m.
Valentine’s Day Gift Basket Giveaway. Basket is filled with delicious Dove Chocolate products compliments of Dove Chocolate Discoveries.com and Independent Chocolatier, Michelle Sheppard. The Fireproof DVD and Love Dare Book AND an overnight stay at the gorgeous High Street Victorian bed & Breakfast in Boonville, Mo.
Send us a love letter you have written to your spouse by February 11th. We will select a winner from all of the letters we receive and read that love letter on the air on February 12th. Plus, the winning letter writer will receive the gift basket to share with their special Valentine! You can email your letter to Karen@spiritfm.org or you can snail mail them to Spirit FM P.O. Box 800 Camdenton, Mo. 65020.
LIFE CHANGING WORD
As I was pulling out my Valentine’s Day decorations yesterday I was flipping through a book and I found some pressed rose petal leaves in between the pages. Suddenly I was taken back a few years and remembered what those dried red petals meant to me. They represented the love that my husband had, and has, for me, during this romantic season, and all year long. I sat there with the brittle, delicate petals in my hand and I couldn’t help but smile to myself and feel all warm inside remembering the day I put those roses in between the pages of that book.
I don’t know about you, but I try to save things like that all the time. My kids laugh at me because I think I have every card they ever gave me, every picture they ever colored, and every Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day decoration they ever made at school.
I think it is great to save these little momentos but I also know that it is important to live each day to it’s fullest and not just dwell on the past. All too soon our lives , like those rose petals I saved, will wither and fade away. So take up today and live the life God has given you, with your eyes wide open. The brillance of life will linger if we open our hearts to the joy of each day. The joy that can only be found in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. Isaiah 64:6
TODAY IS….
Today is Federal No Smoking Day. In 1987, no smoking became the rule for 6,800 federal buildings across the U.S. Hmmm. Does this mean President Obama will be seen outside the White House taking smoke breaks today
Today is Federal No Smoking Day. In 1987, no smoking became the rule for 6,800 federal buildings across the U.S. Hmmm. Does this mean President Obama will be seen outside the White House taking smoke breaks today
Today is National Wear Red Day, kicking off the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" cardiovascular disease campaign (First Friday in February.)
Today is Bubble Gum Day, the day thousands of children who donate 50 cents to a worthy charity get to chew gum at school. (Kids, make sure you have your principal's permission.)
Today is Be Happy Together Day, a day for couples to do something fun.
1935: The board game Monopoly went on sale.
1971: Alan Shepard hit three golf balls on the moon. Alan played golf like I do. He lost all three balls.
IN THE NEWS…..
President Obama May Be A Genius
Obama is a genius. Whenever he nominates someone, they pay their taxes. He’s found a way to eliminate the deficit — nominate everyone in the country, one person at a time, and they’ll pay their taxes.
Tom Daschle withdrew his name to be in Obama’s Cabinet, due to IRS problems. He said, “I will not be a distraction.” Translation….. “Uh-oh. There’s a lot more stuff you don’t know about yet.”
Apparently to some of these Democrats IRS means m really sorry!
Filling a need:
A new company is out with something called "Squeeze the Banker" dolls. You can squeeze the heck out of HENRY PAULSON, BEN BERNANKE, ALAN GREENSPAN. It's made for those of us who have lost investments in the slumping economy. Cost: $8.99Yes, because the first thing that crosses my mind after losing have the value in my stock portfolio and 401k account is, "I could sure use me some "Squeeze the Banker" dolls.
Saturday mail delivery may be cut later this year. There goes one of the great pleasures of summertime Saturdays. Sitting in your front yard -- watching the mailman walk by wearing shorts -- admiring his knees.
Small Town Politics
Buckle up. We mean it. At least a dozen states looking for new sources of revenue are cracking down on drivers who don't strap in by making it a primary offense for not wearing a seat belt. In the past, it's been a secondary offense, meaning cops had to pull you over for a different infraction — like speeding — and then they could give you a ticket for not buckling up. No more.States that begin issuing citations by Sept 30 become eligible for tens of millions of dollars in federal aid, not to mention revenue from tickets.
A new business has been set up for your wedding day: "Marryoke." The novelty wedding videos are elaborate productions in which the bride and groom star and the wedding party fill out the supporting cast in short musical films. For instance, the bride and groom might dance through the streets of your town, followed by members of the bridal party (or invited guests), lip-synching to the strains of 'That's How You Know' from Disney's 'Enchanted.' The London Telegraph reports JENNIFER PAGE, a former producer for the BBC (and not related to the RBR’s Jennifer Page), runs 4 Life Films, a wedding video production company that does the work. A video costs between $850 and $2850.
Our nomination for Criminal Mastermind of the Week goes to the guy robbing a couple of 7-Elevens armed with a Klingon sword.
He managed to get cash from one clerk but left the second store empty-handed.
It's not just any Klingon sword, mind you. Both clerks described the weapon as a Klingon-type sword, called a "bat'leth." It has points on both ends, two points in between and a handle on the outside.
Nobody was hurt by the weapon but the apparent Star Trek fan is still at large.
And likely to be found living in mom's basement
Political Racket /Dirty Tricks:
This calendar year might be a good time to buy a new car — if you can afford it.The Senate passed measure yesterday (by 71-26 vote) that would give a tax break to new car buyers. You'd be able to deduct the sales tax paid on a new car and interest payments on car loans.The tax break would apply to the first $49,500 on the price of a new car purchased between last November 12 and December 31 of this year. Individuals with incomes of up to $125-thousand and couples earnings as much as $250-thousand could qualify, including those who do not itemize their deductions.The idea is to encourage people to get into the showroom and help a beleaguered auto industry which can't even seem to give away a car these days.
The hot rumor yesterday was that DENISE RICHARDS, STEVE-O and JEWEL were going to be in this season's cast of "Dancing With The Stars." According to Life & Style Weekly, Denise has already lost a few pounds to tone up and get in shape. Sources also leaked to In Touch Weekly magazine that Jewel was "thrilled because of what the show has done for past contestants' bodies."
Meanwhile, OK! magazine reported Steve-O was already taking dance lessons. He's publicly battled a severe addiction to drugs, did four months in a mental institution to overcome his disease, and is said to be taking his dance lessons very seriously.
Also rumored (at some point in the past month) to be joining the eighth season: BRITNEY SPEARS' ex, KEVIN FEDERLINE, DINA LOHAN (LINDSAY's mom), "Entourage's" EMMANUELLE CHRIQUI, former "View" cast member SHERRI SHEPHERD, former NFL linebacker LAWRENCE TAYLOR and singer STEVIE WONDER.
We'll find out the whole cast on Sunday night when TOM BERGERON makes the announcement during an "All Night Name Drop" event in promos done throughout the network's prime-time programming. The new season of the show kicks off March 9th.
In other Rreality TV News..Simon Does a Good Deed!
Former American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino has music mogul Simon Cowell to thank for saving her North Carolina home from foreclosure - after he reportedly helped to pay off some of her debts.
The singer, who was crowned the winner of the reality talent show in 2004, purchased the six-bedroom house in Charlotte in March 2007 for $1.3 million.
But she ran into financial difficulty and failed to keep up with repayments on the property.
The mansion was due to be auctioned off on January 12th by the local Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, but the sale was called off at the last minute after Barrino reached a deal with financiers.
And, according to the National Enquirer, it was Cowell who stepped in to provide a short-term solution to Barrino's money problems.
A source tells the tabloid, "Very quietly, Simon promised to help Fantasia take care of some of the back payments she owed so the house wouldn't go on the block. "
"His offer of monetary support helped her stave off the creditors, at least for the time being."
"Simon didn't want to take any credit for it, he just wanted to help her out of a jam. He was hoping to keep his good deed a secret. He didn't want to cause Fantasia any further public embarrassment."
Environmentally Safe Coffins
An Australian company has launched a personalised range of environmentally friendly coffins to make the final goodbye a little more individual. LifeArt offers customised designs such as an image of a surfer catching a wave, a picturesque scene or the colours of a favorite sports team. Customers can design their own coffin or choose from a range of designs. LifeArt coffins are manufactured from a form of cardboard, which meets the standards required by the funeral industry for either cremation or burial. The company says it means their clients can "pass away safe in the knowledge that your container (and its treasured contents) can biodegrade quickly and harmlessly with less carbon emissions and without cost to timber forests".
Some of the President’s Faith Advisors Pro-Abortion
President Barack Obama has compiled a new group of faith-based advisors who will comprise his new White House Office for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. However, unlike President Bush's group of religious advisors, Obama's includes abortion advocates.
The revamped White House office will direct federal funds to religious and neighborhood groups for social service projects.
The Obama "faith tour" was soundly condemned by pro-life advocates during the campaign because it had the involvement of Pepperdine University professor Doug Kmiec and others who falsely claimed Obama was pro-life on abortion.
"That is just is a public relations product cooked up at liberal think tanks like Third Way, where veteran pro-abortion activists specialize in developing strategies to help hard-core pro-abortion politicians camouflage their positions," NRLC legislative director Douglas Johnson told LifeNews.com at the time.
Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Washington-based Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, a political group, will also be involved in the White House faith group.
However, the center Saperstein heads agreed to co-sponsor the national pro-abortion march Planned Parenthood, NARAL and other abortion advocates organized in 2004.
In addition, former NARAL President Kate Michelman was invited to attend the Union for Reform Judaism's biennial convention in Minneapolis in 2003.
She told convention-goers, "We are counting on groups like this -- activists like you -- to pack the buses and come to Washington" for the pro-abortion march.
Saperstein himself has attacked pro-life advocates and, in 2005, called "reprehensible" and "abhorrent" comments Focus on the Family head Dr. James Dobson made comparing the destruction of human embryos in embryonic stem cell research to the deaths of Jews killed during the Nazi holocaust.
Saperstein chided Dobson for trying to "link for political purposes" to the death of Jews "research on blastocysts that will be destroyed anyway."
Cavities Not the Worse Thing Going on in Your Child’s Mouth
New research shows cavities may not be your child's worst dental enemy.
"This research is on dental erosion -- a silent process that's eating away at a tooth's enamel. The treatment for this condition can be simple," Dr. Bruce Hensel said.
Finding out your child has a cavity is the last thing parents want to hear after a dental exam. But now there's something else to worry about. A first-of-its-kind study finds that 30 percent of 10-to 14-year-olds have dental erosion. It's the loss of enamel caused by acids found in certain foods and drinks.
Dental Researcher Bennett Amaechi says that at the early stage dental erosion can be identified by a very shiny surface. So shiny, people don't usually notice a problem.
Anna Vega enrolled three of her children in the study. Her 11-year-old's teeth had trouble spots.
"I really didn't think it was doing any damage to them. I figured they ate it, they would brush. And it turned out that stuff was doing harm to them," Vega said.
Researchers focused on acidic products that cause dental erosion like soda, sports drinks, herbal teas, fruit juices and some candies. While you don't have to avoid them completely,moderation is key. Like cavities, catching erosion at its earliest can help prevent problems.
"The key thing is that dentists should capture it at the early stage because if you leave it to get advanced, the patient will suffer by sensitivity," Amaechi said.
Anna says her kids only have soda or candy on special occasions, because now they know the damage it can do.
"Some other hints: in addition to cutting down on sodas and sugary drinks, don't have your children brush their teeth immediately after candy or soda. Have them rinse with milk first. It helps break up the acid on their teeth before they brush. If their teeth are sensitive; have them checked for dental erosion; it can be reversed when caught early," Dr. Hensel said.
FAST FACTS:Tooth erosion is the loss of enamel caused by exposure to acids.In a recent study, about 30 percent of middle school students were found to have some degree of tooth erosion.High acid foods and beverages, like colas and some citrus fruits, are more likely to cause tooth erosion.Patients can take steps to reduce the risk for tooth erosion.For more details, refer to our comprehensive research summary.
Is Osama Bin Laden Job Hunting?
SYDNEY — More than 10,000 people have jumped at the chance to become the caretaker of a tropical Australian island — including a man identifying himself as the world's most wanted terrorist, Usama bin Laden.
A 30-second video posted on YouTube shows actual video of the bearded Al Qaeda leader with garbled audio dubbed over his real voice and subtitles stating why he is right for the job.
"I enjoy the outdoors and sandy areas," the subtitles read. "I've got experience with videos, delegating tasks and experience with large scale event coordination. My interests include arts and craft and renovating. I'm outgoing and fun-loving."
Tourism Queensland, which is coordinating the contest, confirmed that a person using bin Laden's name had lodged an official application but it was rejected as inappropriate, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Wednesday.
Queensland launched the "Best Job in the World" campaign on Jan. 12, calling for video applications from people interested in a $100,000 contract to relax on Hamilton Island in the Great Barrier Reef for six months while writing a blog to promote the island.
Bin Laden is believed to be in hiding somewhere along the mountainous border between Afghanistan and Pakistan and occasionally releases video and audio messages.
The job is part of a $1.1 million campaign to publicize the charms of northeastern Queensland state. The employee will live free on the island, exploring the reef and posting videos and photos on a weekly blog.
Some of the most popular videos that have been vetted and approved by Queensland Tourism staff can be viewed on the department's Web site.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Woman Fails Driver’s Test 771 Times
SEOUL, South Korea — A woman in South Korea who has taken the written exam required for a driver's license nearly every day since 2005 has failed again — but is hoping attempt No. 772 will be the charm.
The aspiring driver took her first test in April 2005, according to Choi Young-chul, an official at the North Jeolla Province driver's license agency in Jeonju, 150 miles south of Seoul.
She has taken the test a record 771 times, most recently on Monday, but has yet to pass. She said she plans to take the test again but did not say when, he said Thursday.
The 68-year-old has spent $3,000 on fees for the test, he said. Applicants must score at least 60 on the written exam before they can get behind the wheel for a driving test. Choi says she's scored as high as 50.
"I feel sorry every time I see Cha fail. When she passes, I'll make a memorial tablet myself and give it to her," Park Jung-seok, a traffic police officer at the agency, told the Korea Times newspaper.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
THE MORNING SHOW
On
SPIRIT FM
WITH
JIM & KAREN
The Love Language of God – Hope for today’s Marriage Series kicks off this Friday at 8 a.m.
Valentine’s Day Gift Basket Giveaway. Basket is filled with delicious Dove Chocolate products compliments of Dove Chocolate Discoveries.com and Independent Chocolatier, Michelle Sheppard. The Fireproof DVD and Love Dare Book AND an overnight stay at the gorgeous High Street Victorian bed & Breakfast in Boonville, Mo.
Send us a love letter you have written to your spouse by February 11th. We will select a winner from all of the letters we receive and read that love letter on the air on February 12th. Plus, the winning letter writer will receive the gift basket to share with their special Valentine! You can email your letter to Karen@spiritfm.org or you can snail mail them to Spirit FM P.O. Box 800 Camdenton, Mo. 65020.
LIFE CHANGING WORD
In my devotion time the other day I was in the Book of John and I was reading in Chapter 11 about the death of Lazarus. Now Lazarus was the brother to Mary, who annotied Jesus feet with perfume and dried them with her hair. Lazarus was also the brother to Martha. All three of them were loved by Jesus and they were his dear friends.
Now Jesus received the news of Lazarus’ sickness and pending death he did not race back to Judea but stayed a few more days.
Now I know that Jesus did not do anything without it first coming directly from the Father, so I believe that Jesus knew to stay where he was for a time so that when he did return and raise Lazarus from the dead it would be a HUGE testament as to who he really was to everyone around him.
Something I noticed in this story that I never had seen before was the reaction of Martha and Mary when Jesus finally did return to the village where Lazarus had died. Martha heard Jesus was coming and she ran out to meet him while Mary remained sitting in the house. That struck me…that Mary didn’t run to meet Jesus as well.
Do you think Mary had a “girlfriend attitude”? She knew Jesus had received the message days before about her sick brother. Do you think she was thinking to herself, “Oh yeah..now you show up. Where have you been all this time? We could have really used your help a few days ago..and NOW you show up? Seriously, Jesus..I’m the one that sat at your feet and hung on your every word while Martha cleaned and cleaned the house during your visit…you even commended me…but you can’t take the time to show up when I call for you? What is up with that?”
Sometimes I think we “cop” a “girlfriend attitude” like Mary may have. We pray and present our petitions and needs to the Lord and yet he is silent for days, weeks, sometimes even years and we beging to question whether or not he is listtening at all. Is he really going to help us? Does he really care about us? The answer of course, is “yes, he does.” But we must understand that our timing is not always God’s timing.
Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead and he does answer our prayers, in his divine timing , in his wisdom and love for us.
TODAY IS….
Today is National Weatherperson's Day (formerly Weatherman's Day until society wised up and realized a woman could miss the forecast just as well as man).
Today is Weatherperson's Day, marking the birth in 1744 of John Jefferies, one of America's first weathermen. According to historians, Jefferies was bald, told jokes, and knew nothing about meteorology, so he was perfect for the job.
Today is Family Leave Day. In 1993, President Clinton signed the Family Leave Bill, which allowed workers to take time off to deal with the birth or adoption of a child
National School Counseling Week begins today.
Today traditionally is No Talk Day at the Garner Elementary School in Clio, Michigan. No one can say anything at school today; all communication has to be in writing. We tried to call the school for an interview, but nobody would talk to us.The answering machine wouldn't even beep.Actually, it's a good idea, but not for radio. Except maybe for Howard Stern.
Today is National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day to honor all girls and women in sports, and any other athletes who sometimes wear dresses.Or run funny.
IN THE NEWS…..
It’s Tax Time
What's the difference between death and taxes? Death doesn't get worse every time Congress convenes.
Yesterday was Football Signing Day
Yesterday was National College Signing Day for America's top high school football stars. It's also the last time any of them will write anything again.
Health for Kids
The House has overwhelmingly approved a bill to provide government-sponsored health coverage to 4 million more children. Of course, this coverage is only available to kids who can fill out 500 pages of government insurance forms.
The Difference Between Recession and Depression
Do you know the difference?
Recession is when your neighbor loses their job. Depression is when you lose yours.
President Obama Works Towards Capping Execs Pay
President Barack Obama imposed $500,000 caps on senior executive pay for the most distressed financial institutions receiving federal bailout money, saying Americans are upset with "executives being rewarded for failure." Hey, those C.E.O.'s are something else, aren't they? I think Albert Einstein was correct when he said: "Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed."
Lipo- Suctioned Body Fat Powers Surgeon’s SUV
In Beverly Hills, Calif., a former liposuction doctor admitted he had used excessive body fat from patients to create a bio-diesel fuel that powered his SUV. He tried it for a while just to see if it worked. It did. I would imagine his patients felt a little funny knowing their body fat was in his SUV.
Follow Up On Octuplet Mom Story
She isn’t married, although the father of the octuplets is apparently in the military and scheduled to go to Iraq. Or at least we think that part is true.
The mother also has six other children at home, where she has been living with her mother.
All of the children were conceived artificially.
That makes 14 children in all….but, where are the donations of diapers, formula, baby items? Where is the free mini-van?
Women who give birth to six, seven or eight babies are often showered with dazzling gifts from big corporations, local businesses and strangers. But that is not happening with the Southern California mother who delivered octuplets last week.
The news that she is a single mother with six other children — and that all 14 were conceived by having embryos implanted — seems to have turned off many people, and companies are not exactly rushing to get publicity by piling on the freebies.
Nadya Suleman, 33, has been lambasted by talk-show hosts, fertility experts, even her own mother, who has her hands full taking care of Suleman’s other children, ages 2 to 7.
Procter & Gamble spokeswoman Tricia Higgins said that the maker of Pampers does not actively seek out parents to sponsor, but that the octuplets’ mother can ask for what is typically provided in multiple births: a jumbo pack of diapers for each child, baby wipes, and coupons for discounts. That is unlikely to last Suleman a week.
Conservative radio talk show host Bill Handel in Los Angeles, who has branded the births “freakish,” said on the air Tuesday that people are ready to boycott any corporations that help the octuplets or their mother.
Suleman has had offers for TV and other media deals, but he added it was too early to discuss how much money she might receive.
For a single mother, the cost of raising 14 children through age 17 ranges from $1.3 million to $2.7 million through age 17, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Suleman octuplets’ medical costs have not been disclosed, but the average cost for just one cesarean birth in 2006 was $22,762 in California. The Suleman babies were born nine weeks premature. In California, a single premature birth in 2006 led to an average hospital stay of 25 days and cost $164,273. That would amount to a $1.3 million bill for eight.
Suleman’s income is unclear. She was employed by a mental hospital from 1997 through 2008.
Cars Don’t Need Much Warm Up
The next time you find yourself cursing the cold while your car idles out in the driveway, ask yourself what part of your car you are warming.
If it’s a warm interior you seek, you’re on the right course.
But if you are trying to warm up the engine, you could already be heading down the road.
“Extended warm-ups are not necessary,” said John Paul, AAA Southern New England's Car Doctor. “In cold weather, allow the car to run for a minute and then drive (or) accelerate slowly until the car comes up to operating temperature.
The operating temperature varies by vehicle and by driving conditions, but generally falls within a range of 190-250 degrees.
Modern vehicles are more intelligent than they were in the past. With massive computerization, sensors inside the car adjust the engine’s behavior based on the conditions.
In addition, idling a car for longer wastes fuel. As FuelEconomy.gov puts it, idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than cars with smaller engines.
But while idling your car to warm up your engine is unnecessary, there are other steps you should take to ensure your vehicle starts and runs properly on frigid mornings.
Paul said AAA Southern New England recommends motorists check to see their battery is fully charged and in proper working condition.
"At zero degrees, your car's battery can lose up to 60 percent of its power," Paul said. "Even at 32 degrees, your car's battery can be up to 35 percent weaker than at 70 degrees."
The most common sign of a weak battery is an unusual sound coming from the starter motor when the ignition key is turned, indicating difficulty in starting the engine, Paul said.
Paul also points to clean oil as especially important during the winter, when sludgy, contaminated oil can make an engine harder to turn over and start. Equally important is keeping your fuel tank at least half full in cold weather and ensuring your engine coolant is clean and at the proper level.
“Cold temperatures compound existing problems,” he said. “A car that is slow to start in 50 degree temperature may not start at all when the temperature dips below zero.”
Abortion Funding Abroad Policy Least Popular move so far for President Obama
Among the several major actions President Obama has taken in the early days of his office, his decision to reverse the prohibition on funding for overseas abortion providers was the least popular, the latest Gallup Poll shows.
Only 35 percent of Americans approved of Obama's repeal of the Mexico City Policy, while 58 percent disapproved, according to a Gallup poll released Monday. The second least popular action was the order to close the Guantanamo Bay prison with only 44 percent expressing approval.
The USA Today/Gallup poll, conducted Jan. 30-Feb. 1, asked 1,027 Americans to say whether they approve or disapprove of seven specific actions Obama has taken as president.
Out of the seven policies included in the poll - from naming special envoys for the Middle East to limiting interrogation techniques on prisoners - Obama's decision to repeal the pro-life rule garnered the highest disapproval rating.
Out of the seven policies included in the poll - from naming special envoys for the Middle East to limiting interrogation techniques on prisoners - Obama's decision to repeal the pro-life rule garnered the highest disapproval rating.
The Mexico City Policy, which declared that American tax dollars would not fund international organizations involved in performing or promoting abortions abroad, was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. The policy was repealed by Bill Clinton when he took office in 1993 but it was then re-instituted by George W. Bush in 2001. Obama has once again lifted it.
When compared across political lines, the president's repeal of the pro-life rule still received the lowest approval rating.
The provision in the stimulus plan to expand state access to family-planning services under Medicaid was dropped after House Republicans denounced it, arguing that it wouldn't stimulate the economy and would instead go toward funding "the abortion industry" and the distribution of contraceptives.
So What Happens to all that Arizona Cardinal Super Bowl Gear that Didn’t Get Used?
Two sets of Super Bowl Champion gears were printed, but only one team could claim the champion title and wear the victory t-shirts and hats after Sunday’s game.
The dramatic, breathtaking twist in the final minute of the game crowned the Pittsburgh Steelers the winner of Super Bowl XLIII and made the Arizona Cardinals’ pre-printed champion gear unsellable in the United States.
But through a partnership between World Vision and the National Football League, hundreds of poor children and families in the Central American nation of El Salvador will be the happy recipients of Reebok produced t-shirts, hats, and McArthur Towel & Sports produced trophy towels that wrongly hailed the Arizona Cardinals the Super Bowl champion.
For many of these children and families, the NFL gear will be the first new piece of clothing they have ever received in their lives.
An estimated $1 million worth of Super Bowl apparel will be donated this year, according to Fields.
The Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl apparel from host city Tampa Bay is expected to arrive at the World Vision distribution center Tuesday afternoon. Major sporting good retailers and manufacturers across the nation will also be donating official Cardinal Super Bowl apparel in the following weeks.
Fields will travel to El Salvador on Wednesday to support the distribution of the Cardinals apparel.
For 17 years, World Vision and the NFL have teamed up to donate the large quantity of unsellable Super Bowl apparel to people living in extreme poverty around the world.
Instead of being destroyed, the Super Bowl apparel from the losing team is quickly shipped from the host city to World Vision’s international distribution center just outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. At the distribution center, items are then sorted and added to shipments of other goods requested by World Vision field staff in various countries.
This year, World Vision noted, the apparel from the losing team is ironically being shipped to the champion’s hometown of Pittsburgh where the warehouse is located.
“World Vision helps us to ensure that no NFL apparel goes to waste,” said David Krichavsky, NFL director of community relations, in a statement. “We are pleased to find a good home for the clothing by getting it to those who need it most.”
Last year, Super Bowl gear from the New England Patriots were distributed to schoolchildren in Nicaragua. The Patriots clothing was also provided to children in Africa, Asia, and Eastern Europe.
House Votes to Delay Digital Switch
Congress this afternoon granted a four-month reprieve to the millions of consumers who are at risk of losing access to TV signals during the switch from over-the-air television to digital broadcasting.
In a 264-158 vote, the House of Representatives approved a bill to push the transition to June 12 from Feb. 17. President Obama has promised to sign the legislation, which passed the Senate last week. The law will require TV stations to keep broadcasting their analog signals until June 12. Consumer advocates say that as many as 10 million viewers currently get their programming solely from over-the-air broadcasts and are unprepared for the digital transition.
"Consumers are confused about where to buy their converter box, about which box to buy, how to hook up their box, what to do if they lose a channel they once got and whether they need a new antenna," said Joel Kelsey, a policy analyst with Consumers Union. "Changing the date allows them more time to grapple with those questions."
But the delay also could make the confusing transition even more perplexing for some viewers.
TV stations are allowed to seek federal approval to turn off their analog signals before the new deadline. So instead of nearly all broadcasters making the switch on Feb. 17, stations now may ...
... make the switch at different times over the next four months.
That could create another hiccup: Some converter boxes don't have the ability to "pass through" analog signals. As a result, in areas where both digital and analog signals are transmitted, viewers with the wrong converter box may have to unplug the device to watch one channel broadcast in analog, then plug it back in to watch another in digital.
Although they did not need to notify the FCC if they planned to switch on Feb. 17, 276 stations have, indicating that they may want to make the switch on that date regardless of the congressional delay. But acting FCC Chairman Michael J. Copps said this week that some of those stations may decide to continue broadcasting in analog after the delay is enacted.
The original law that set the Feb. 17 deadline also allowed stations to make the switch early. Some already have -- 143 of the nation’s approximately 1,800 stations have made the transition, and 60 more plan to do it before Feb. 17, according to the FCC.
But supporters said the delay was necessary, particularly to provide more money for the government's subsidy program for consumers who purchase converter boxes. The Commerce Department, which administers a $1.5-billion program to send coupons worth $40 toward the purchase of a converter, ran out of money Jan. 4 and started a waiting list. There are requests for about 3.2 million coupons currently on the list, according to Consumers Union.
It's Time for the Kids to 'Doodle for Google"
Is Snow The New Super Food?
RECIPE FOR SNOW ICE CREAM
8 cups of snow or shaved ice
1 (14 ounce) can of sweetend condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
Place snow or shaved ice into a large bowl. Pour condensed milk over and add vanilla. Mix to combine. Serve immediately in bowls!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
THE MORNING SHOW
ON
SPIRIT FM
WITH
JIM & KAREN
karen@spiritfm.org
LIFE CHANGING WORD
Yesterday I was out in our shed getting some tools, when I heard a bird chirping frantically and noticed a little sparrow was trapped inside the building. When the little bird heard me in the shed it panicked and started flying into the walls and the windows trying depserately to get away and get out. Finally, the little bird landed on the window sill, trembling, exhausted and trying to regain his strength before he tried to break free again.
The a pretty cool thing happened. From outside the shed’s door another little sparrow hoped toward the open door and started chirping as if to call to the other bird and direct him to freedom. And it worked!
When the trapped bird heard the other bird chirping from the door, he perked up, jumped down from the window sill to the work bench and then down to the floor and out the door! He listened first, not yet seeing, but following the call closer and closer.
Do you feel trapped sometimes? I know I do. It’s those times we need to be reminded that the Lord is our way out. We need to trust him, listen to him through his Word and in our quiet time, and work our way to a freedom that only comes through Christ. Even if at first, we don’t understand, or don’t “see” what it is he is doing.
For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants of one another. Galatians 5:13
TODAY IS….
Today is “Sickie Day” the day that most employers report employees phone in sick.
Today is National Thank A Mailperson Day. So why not stick a little thank you note in the mailbox today…or leave a snack or something sweet for your mailperson to say how much you appreciate them!
Today is Homemade Soup Day.
Today is USO Day. The United Service Organization, providing worldwide civilian support for U.S. servicemen and women and their families, was created on this date in 1941.
On this date in 1789 George Washington was elected President -- unanimously. It's the first and last time Americans agreed on anything.
IN THE NEWS
Follow up story…2 million people took Denny’s up on their recession buster promotion of offering all Americans a FREE Grand Slam breakfast yesterday! Thank you Denny’s!!
Free Breakfast Creates Egg Shortage
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Customers at a metro Denny’s say the restaurant locked its doors after hundreds of hungry customers showed up for a free breakfast.Managers at the Front Street Denny’s, near Interstate 435, said they ran out of eggs, prompting them to temporarily stop their free breakfast promotion.The national breakfast chain announced earlier this week it would offer a free Grand Slam Breakfast to anyone who comes in today between 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.Managers say they were able to get more eggs to the store and reopened shortly before 11 a .m.There was no immediate word if any other locations had closed their doors. The Grand Slam Breakfast includes two eggs, two pancakes, two strips of bacon and two links of sausage. The chain offered the free promotion at all of its 1,560 locations nationwide.
SAT Study
A new study shows that rising SAT scores may be the result of a drop in the concentration of lead in children's blood. In other words, it's a lot easier to do better on the test if you don't eat your #2 pencil.
CitiField Deal Dying?
Citigroup may back out of its $400 million deal for naming rights to the new Mets stadium. Citi executives realized that if they really wanted to spend $400 million on a losing team, they should just give themselves another bonus.
Tom Daschle Withdraws Appointment Nomination
There huge scientific breakthrough today. Researchers say they’re very close to finding someone from Obama’s Cabinet who’s actually paid their taxes.
Tom Daschle, who President Obama wanted as his secretary of Health and Human Services, apparently did not pay $128,000 in taxes that he owes to the government. Do you realize Obama hasn’t had a Cabinet member with an embarrassing tax problem like this since . . . the last guy they appointed?
The Economic Stimulus Plan Meets Resistance
One of the senators resisting President Obama’s stimulus package the most is John McCain. Apparently, McCain’s biggest problem with the package is it’s not written in a larger font.
Speaking of the Economy
Disturbing news from the Internet. Yahoo is in big trouble -- they made a huge financial loss. They changed their name from Yahoo to Boo-hoo.
Hero pilot SULLY SULENBERGER is now every librarian's hero, too.
When Sully's plane ended up in the Hudson River last month, so did a book he had checked out from the library at Fresno State through his local library in Danville, CA.
Sullenberg contacted the library and asked for an extension and waiver of overdue fees because the book was in the airplane's cargo hold.
Fresno State library officials say they were so struck by Sullenberger's sense of responsibility that they waived all fees, even lost book fees, and placed a template on the replacement book, dedicating it to him.
The book's subject: Professional ethics. I'm just glad it wasn't "Bird Sanctuaries of North America," or something.
While we're on the subject, if you'd like to try your hand at landing that US Airways passenger jet in the Hudson River — now you can!
There's a free online game called "Hero of the Hudson" available on AddictingGames.com. And as of Sunday night, more than 1.4 million attempts have been made to safely land that plane. Here's how it works: you use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard to gain control of the falling plane before it hits the water from an altitude of 15-hundred feet.
Starbucks Offering Value Meals
NEW YORK (AP) -- The allure of the value meal has long seduced penny-pinchers craving a cheeseburger. Now, as the dismal economy slurps up profits, Starbucks Corp. is hoping to find some sales salvation in its own value meal variety.
The tug of war for coffee drinkers has gotten hotter in recent months, with McDonald's Corp. offering new, lower-priced specialty coffee drinks and Dunkin' Donuts advertising value-minded deals.
"You've got a lot of options right now for the more price-conscious consumer to save money," said Andrew Hetzel, the founder of coffee consulting group Cafemakers.
Starbucks has yet to offer many details about what Chief Executive Howard Schultz described to investors last week as "several breakfast pairings" at "attractive" prices. More details are expected as early as later this week.
But analysts wonder if the plan will be enough to keep value-seeking customers from abandoning the mermaid for the clown.
The McDonald's drinks, which are now in about half of the company's U.S. stores, have already garnered a following among some former Starbucks customers like Maudie West.
Starbucks is looking to rebound from dismal sales in the U.S. as more consumers cut back on spending in the deepening recession. In its fiscal first quarter report last week, same-store sales - a key indicator of a retailer's performance - dropped 10 percent. That's worse than the 8 percent decline in the fiscal fourth quarter.
Not to be outdone, Dunkin' Donuts is trying to attract value-conscious consumers with specially priced coffee and food combinations, such as a medium drip coffee and an egg white flatbread sandwich for $1.99. The company, which is privately held, doesn't report financial results and declined to give specific figures.
Much of Dunkin's market base is price-sensitive customers, whereas Starbucks' customer base still includes a die-hard core that may be unwilling to trade down on their coffee.
Michael W. Smith Enters GMA Hall of Fame
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Michael W. Smith hopes his induction into the Gospel Music Association's Hall of Fame doesn't make people think his career is over.
Smith and Dolly Parton were among the new inductees honored at a ceremony last night in Nashville.
After 26 years in Christian music, Smith says he still feels like the best is yet to come.
Asked what he's most proud of, Michael W. Smith says it's simply that he's "survived success."
For that, he credits his faith, his wife and family, friends and management. Smith says they've kept him "pretty well grounded" in a business where people are always telling you how great you are.
Sasha & Malia Beanie Babies “Renamed”
OAK BROOK, Ill. (AP) — The toy company that makes the popular Beanie Babies is retiring the names "Marvelous Malia" and "Sweet Sasha" from its Ty Girlz collection.
CEO Ty Warner of Oak Brook-based Ty Inc. says in a statement Tuesday that the dolls have been renamed "Marvelous Mariah" and "Sweet Sydney."
Warner says the original names were inspired by what he calls "this historic time in our nation's history," but the dolls weren't intended to bear the likeness of President Barack Obama's daughters.
Warner says Ty is changing the monikers in deference to the Obama family after first lady Michelle Obama said using her daughters' names was inappropriate.
BATH MAT MADE OF MOSS IS ALIVE
The mat contains a total of 70 pieces of ball, island and forest moss measuring 2.4in (6cm) each in diameter.
It feels soft underfoot and does not smell when it gets damp.
Each piece of moss is cut into a foam frame, which prevents the moss from spreading or growing out of control.
Its designer, Nguyen La Chanh, from Switzerland, says the mat is very relaxing and needs little care.
She said: "The idea was to find a new way of having your plants inside.
"Not only plants in pots quietly standing in the corner of a living room but alive plants, evolving in the house.
"I think this mat would appeal people who miss a corner of nature in their appartment - perhaps if they live in an urban environment, far from parks and nature areas.
"It's relaxing, feels lovely and soft under the feet and doesn't need much care."
Miss Nguyen is looking for financial backing so she can mass produce the mat for less than the £220 it cost her to make.
So Does Ninetendo’s Wii Fit Really help you Get in Shape and Lose Weight?
Nintendo's (other-otc: NTDOY.PK - news - people) exercise game Wii Fit is still flying off retail shelves eight months after its U.S. release last May. The all-in-one instructional tool, weight tracker and fitness coach advertises itself as a painless way for the whole family to get healthy thanks to the game's "balance board," which measures players' movement. Offering a selection of activities--from running to push-ups to yoga--Wii Fit is now in almost 1.5 million homes across the country. But is anyone actually using it?
Not really, says Brian Crecente, managing editor of the popular gaming blog Kotaku. Despite optimistic predictions that Nintendo had unleashed a new era of videogames, Crecente calls Wii Fit little more than an exercise fad that's bound to come and go like any other. "I don't know a single person who has bought the game who uses it routinely after a month," he claims, stressing that getting results from the game requires dedication and real physical exertion. "What Nintendo did is they tapped into that desire people have to be healthier... Everyone wants to work out, but nobody really wants to put the effort into it."
One of the things that's made Wii Fit so popular is the excitement Nintendo has stirred up with people who don't normally play. For Crecente, that excitement--and the let down that often comes with it--hit home. "My mom and step dad both tried Wii Fit before it came out," he says, "and like every other middle-aged American, they loved it." In fact, they loved it so much they went out and bought a Wii of their own. Months later, though, when Crecente stopped by for a visit, he didn't need to ask if they'd set foot on their balance board. Their Wii had never even been set up. So much for physical fitness.
Don't blame Nintendo for people's sloth, observers say. The company has marketed its new cash cow brilliantly, and it's not responsible for whether consumers play the game or not. Nintendo declined to comment for this article, but Wii Fit creator Shigeru Miyamoto has previously gone on record and said that the game is less about people losing weight and more about broadening the videogame market. Still, it seems a little disingenuous for Nintendo to heavily market a fitness tool that's sitting in more than a million American living rooms collecting dust.
That's not to say Wii Fit doesn't work--if you play it. Brian Ashcraft, another Kotaku editor, tried the game out faithfully for a month when it was first released in order to review it. The results: He enjoyed the yoga, and started to feel more in shape. But the novelty wore off, and Ashcraft admits he hasn't picked up the game in a long, long time.
Not everyone, however, is prepared to give up on Wii Fit. Instead of relying on anecdotal evidence, Scott Owens, a professor of exercise science at the University of Mississippi, has started a six-month study to uncover whether placing Wii Fit in a home will actually improve a family's physical fitness. By donating the game to local participants for three months at a time, then taking it away for another three months, Owens will be able to observe how the game impacts cardiovascular fitness, flexibility and balance. How often families use Wii Fit will be up to them.
Of course, the overall goal of Owens' study isn't to question Wii Fit's effectiveness--it's to provide more insight into the American obesity epidemic. Right now, Owens speculates that playing traditional videogames might be a contributing factor because it's a sedentary activity. Results of his study are expected to come out this June.
In the meantime, gamers like Crecente remain skeptical about the Wii Fit hype, predicting that this, too, will pass into fitness fad history. When a neighbor mentioned heading out to buy a Wii Fit recently, Crecente's advice was simple: Don't do it. "I have to keep reminding people," he sighs, "even though it's a videogame, it's still exercise. It might be fun a little bit, but it's work."
Former First Children of The White House…Where are They Now?
As the White House changes hands and new kids on the block, Sasha and Malia, take hold of America's most famous address, ghosts of recent presidential children past and their legacies tell tales of success, arrests, and funny pet names. Here's a look of some of their stories, then and now.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lindsay-mannering/former-first-daughters-wh_b_162524.html?alacarte=1
Monday, February 2, 2009
THE MORNING SHOW
ON
SPIRIT FM
WITH
JIM & Karen
LIFE CHANGING WORD
Have you ever heard the tale of the two plates?
Imagine two different plats. One plate has been caarefully washed and though it is not new, it shines with a simple beauty. The second plate has bot been cleaned lately, and though it is new, it looks dull and lifeless. Home-baked chocolate chip cookies, still warm from the oven are placed on each plate. If you have the choice, which plate would you take your cookie from?
On too many days, it is tough for us to manage an attractive appearance. It is much easier to pull on a pair of sweats and a baggy sweatshirt. But in the same way that we would choose a cookie from the well-kept plate, human nature gravitates toward a well-groomed appearance.
In our society physcial appearance counts a great deal. And although we can go overboard with fret and worry about the way we look, we should understand that a well cared for exterior is important. To be effective in sharing God’s Word and love with the world, we don’t want our exterior appearance to obscure the simple beauty of his love shining from within.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns…She is clothed with strength and dignity. Proverbs 31:22-25
TODAY IS….
Winter is officially half over today.
Today is National Carrot Cake Day.
The first paper money in America was issued on this date in 1690. Collecting money as a hobby is called "numistmatism." Unless you're a divorcee, then it's called "alimony."
Two great American traditions began on this day in 1913: the income tax -- and the loophole.The 16th Amendment, which became law on this very day, provided that every American would be taxed according to his income -- except the poor and the wealthy. Thus, the income tax became sort of a penalty for being average.
Only three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and every time you turn on the weather channel, a commercial is on.
P.T. Barnum bought Jumbo the elephant on this day in 1882. Jumbo wasn't too expensive. In fact, Barnum got him for peanuts
IN THE NEWS
Tough times at Disney. They had to lay off 400 employees and make some changes…The title to “Finding Nemo” has been changed to “Avoiding Repo.”
And Wall-E renting is renting himself out as a toaster.
In case you missed it yesterday….
Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his hole this morning and did see his shadow... which means six more weeks before Tim Geithner and Tom Daschle pay their taxes.
Problem with Grounhogs in Your Yard????
Here are some suggestions if you have ground hog problems in your yard. Frightening groundhogs away from the garden with motion devices.
Discouraging groundhogs with repellent smells or tastes.
Fencing groundhogs out of the garden
Or you can do it General Jim’s way…….
Bringing out the heavy artillery: tossing gas cartridges into the groundhogs' burrows, etc.
If that does not work, then try high explosives like in the movie Caddyshack
If that does not work, then try high explosives like in the movie Caddyshack
Super Bowl Ratings
More than 90 million Americans watched the Super Bowl Sunday night... not because the game was exciting, but because everyone wanted to see who could afford to spend $1,300 on a football ticket in this economy.
Are You A Fan of the TV Show “LOST”?
People are getting together for "Lost" discussion groups. They watch that weird TV show "Lost", then they discuss it. And if you find something in the show that makes sense -- they kick you out of the group.
Things overheard at President Barack Obama’s Meeting with the Republicans:
Hey what was the deal with Aretha Franklin’s hat? Anybody know?
You fellas need to take it easy on the Old Spice! Whew.
Smoke break!
Hey about that taxing the rich stuff..you were joking, right?
US Seamen Being Trained to Fend Off Pirates
With an alarming number of tankers and cargo ships getting hijacked on the high seas, the nation's maritime academies are offering more training to merchant seamen in how to fend off attacks from pirates armed not with cutlasses and flintlocks but automatic weapons and grenade launchers.
By the way, have you ever wondered where pirates find their birds? Answer: Parrots Without
Partners.Another question: Who's the pirate's favorite actress? Answer: Diane Cannon.
Tom Daschle is Apologizing for Overlooking Some of His Due Taxes
Fighting to salvage his Cabinet nomination, Tom Daschle apologized for failing to pay more than $120,000 in taxes and appealed to former Senate colleagues to approve him all the same.Mr. Daschle had neglected to realize, when making out your income-tax report, be sure you don't overlook your most expensive dependent — the government.Speaking of taxes, my financial consultant told me to put all my money into taxes. He said they're the only thing that's sure to go up.
Consumer Spending Falls for Sixth Straight Month
Consumer spending fell for a record sixth straight month in December as recession-battered households, worried about surging layoffs, boosted their savings rates to the highest level since May. The economy is even affecting churches. Just last Sunday a preacher in Kansas City, Missouri got up and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets."
Consumer spending fell for a record sixth straight month in December as recession-battered households, worried about surging layoffs, boosted their savings rates to the highest level since May. The economy is even affecting churches. Just last Sunday a preacher in Kansas City, Missouri got up and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new building program. The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets."
12 Surprising Household Cleaners! (Cleaning items that you probably already have in your house so you won’t have to buy expensive cleaners!)
POLL: How Religious Is Your State?
WASHINGTON — Want to be almost certain you'll have religious neighbors? Move to Mississippi. Prefer to be in the least religious state? Venture to Vermont.
A new Gallup Poll, based on more than 350,000 interviews, finds that the Magnolia State is the one where the most people — 85% — say yes when asked "Is religion an important part of your daily life?"
Less than half of Vermonters, meanwhile — 42% — answered that same question in the affirmative.
Overall, Gallup researchers found that 65% of all Americans said religion was important in their daily lives. The total sample of 355,334 U.S. adults, including respondents with land-line telephones and cellular phones, had a margin of error of plus or minus 1 percentage point. Some states had margins of error as high as plus or minus 4 percentage points.
HERE’S THE COMPLETE LIST:
RELIGIOUS STATES
Following is Gallup's entire list of states, in order of what percentage of respondents said religion is "an important part" of their daily lives:
• Mississippi: 85%• Alabama: 82%• South Carolina: 80%• Tennessee: 79%• Louisiana: 78%• Arkansas: 78%• Georgia: 76%• North Carolina: 76%• Oklahoma: 75%• Kentucky: 74%• Texas: 74%• West Virginia: 71%• Kansas: 70%• Utah: 69%• Missouri: 68%• Virginia: 68%• South Dakota: 68%• North Dakota: 68%• Indiana: 68%• Nebraska: 67%• New Mexico: 66%• Pennsylvania: 65%• Florida: 65%• Maryland: 65%• Ohio: 65%• Iowa: 64%• Minnesota: 64%• Illinois: 64%• Michigan: 64%• Delaware: 61%• Wisconsin: 61%• District of Columbia: 61%• Idaho: 61%• Arizona: 61%• New Jersey: 60%• Wyoming: 58%• Colorado: 57%• Hawaii: 57%• California: 57%• Montana: 56%• New York: 56%• Connecticut: 55%• Nevada: 54%• Rhode Island: 53%• Oregon: 53%• Washington: 52%• Alaska: 51%• Massachusetts: 48%• Maine: 48%• New Hampshire: 46%• Vermont: 42%
The World’s Weirdest Hotels:
So What Are You Willing To Give Up InThis Tough Economy?
People forced to tighten their belts still can’t bare to part with the Internet, cell phone service and cable T.V., but they can live without satellite radio, maid service and facials, according to the National Retail Federation.
The survey conducted by BIGresearch found that nearly 81 percent of those surveyed could not give up their Internet service, followed by 64 percent who couldn’t give up cell phone service and 60.5 percent who couldn’t cut cable. Also on the list of must-haves were discount shopping for apparel, hair cuts and colors, eating at fast-food restaurants and new shoes.
Consumers are much more willing to give up luxury handbags, satellite radio, specialty shopping for apparel, high-end cosmetics, maid service and facials, however.
“Today’s economy has had an impact on every American, and retailers are dealing with very different shoppers than they were one year ago,” said Phil Rist, executive vice president of Strategic Initiatives at BIGresearch.
The survey conducted from Dec. 16-18 also found that more women found cell phone service an essential item than men - 70 to 57.8 percent - and more adults ages 18-34 found hair cuts and colors more expendable than adults age 35-54.
Can Too Much TV Make A Child Mentally Ill? The Answer in This Research is YES!
Excessive exposure makes a child materialistic, which in turn affects their relationship with their parents and their health.
That is one of the conclusions of a new wide-ranging survey into British childhood, produced for the Children's Society.
It says that children are part of a new form of consumerism, with under 16 year-olds spending £3 billion of their own money each year on clothes, snacks, music, video games and magazines.
The report claims that some advertisers "explicitly exploit the mechanism of peer pressure, while painting parents as buffoons" and that in its most extreme form, advertising persuades children that "you are what you own".
In addition the "constant exposure" to celebrities through, TV soaps, dramas and chat shows is having a detrimental effect.
It says: "Children today know in intimate detail the lives of celebrities who are richer than they will ever be, and mostly better-looking. This exposure inevitably raises aspirations and reduces self-esteem."
It adds the way celebrities are portrayed "automatically encourages the excessive pursuit of wealth and beauty."
This "media-driven consumerism" is having a negative effect on a child's wellbeing, the report says.
It highlights a study into the effect of consumerism on the psychological wellbeing of 10-13 year-olds.
That study found: "Other things being equal, the more a child is exposed to the media (television and Internet), the more materialistic she becomes, the worse she relates to her parents and the worse her mental health."
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