Hi, I'm Rona...and I'm pretty random. I blurt out things that come to mind. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious. Tune in to find out what I mean. Drop me a line at rona@lite975.com!
Do you know someone who always has an excuse? I do! This guy always has a reason why he messed something up, he showed up late, or plain old didn't meet expectations. Anyway, he's got nothing on this little girl. Look what her teacher did to try and set her straight before it becomes a bad habit.
Girl Gets ‘Award’ For Homework Excuses An Arizona woman said her 8-year-old daughter was humiliated to receive the “Catastrophe Award” from her teacher for giving the most homework excuses. Christina Valdez said her daughter, Cassandra Garcia, received the colorful card from her teacher May 18th at Desert Springs Academy in Tucson. “You’re Tops! Catastrophe Award. Awarded to Cassandra Garcia. For Most Excuses for Not Having Homework,” the award reads. The card was signed “Ms. Plowman” with the date and a smiley face. “I think it’s cruel and no child should be given an award like this. It’s disturbing,” Valdez said.
DOES YOUR DOG LOOK LIKE BENJI? _ The red carpet awaits your dog -- if he looks like the mixed-breed mutt that starred in nine Benji films. Turn your four-legged family member into a star by posting a pic of your mutt's mug on Facebook. The winning dog will star in the latest Benji movie. The studio started a Facebook page where dog owners and shelter workers can post pictures of dogs they think resemble the famous raggedy pup.
... To enter the contest, share your dog's picture on the movie's Facebook page at facebook.com/benjithemovie.
Good mornin people! It's Wednesday. Since we are in the middle of a shortened work week, I'm not going to complain about being tired or any of that.
So now that we are unofficially into the summer season, will you be going to an amusement park this summer? I read this article about the oldest amusement parks. Who knew the oldest one in this country was built in the 1860's? Read it below.
America’s Oldest Amusement Parks
As Americans pack their bags and get ready to leave for vacation, one of the biggest attractions each year are amusement parks. The oldest worldwide amusement park is located in Denmark, dating back to 1583. The National Amusement Park Historical Association conducted a survey to find America’s oldest amusement parks still operating today. Coming in at No. 1 is Lake Compounce Amusement Park in Bristol, Connecticut, which began operating in 1846. No. 2 on the list is Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio, which began operating in 1870 and still runs today. Idlewild Park in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, opened in 1878, and Sea Breeze Amusement Park in Rochester, New York, began operating in 1879. Rounding out the top five is Dorney Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania, which opened its doors in 1884.
Listen all this week to win tickets to DelGrosso's Amusement Park in Tipton, PA. Here's a little history about it from Wikipedia.
"Formerly known as Bland's Park until 2000, the small family-friendly amusement park is located in Tipton, in Blair County, Pennsylvania. Altoona railroad businessman Fred Delgrosso purchased the amusement park in 1946. DelGrosso's Amusement Park was originally opened by the Rinard brothers on the Blands' family farm in 1907. The park fell into disrepair during the Great Depression. It was purchased in 1946 by Fred DelGrosso, at which time only a few picnic shelters remained. The DelGrosso family has continued to invest in the park with various additions and improvements and continues to operate it today."
When I read the story: "Cows Crash the Party; Drink All the Beer", I didn't think it was serious...I had to double check to make sure it wasn't April Fool's Day...it's not. Read on.
Six cows crashed a party in a Massachusetts town and bullied the guests for their beer. Boxford police Lt. James Riter was responding to a call about loose cows when he witnessed a herd high-tailing it for a backyard, followed by screaming. When he ran back there, he found the cows had chased off the guests and knocked their beer cans over so they could lap up the spillage. He says they even started rooting through the recycling for extra drops. "They enjoyed it," Riter says. "There’s no doubt about it." The cows' owner later showed up and herded them home.
Can you believe we are at the end of May already? Whew! Time is flying by!
Now that Memorial day is behind us, we start thinking about movies. I was listening to the radio and these guys were running down the Top 10 Most Recognizable Movie Themes. I definitely agree with a few of them like:
Star Wars
Pink Panther
Jaws
Rocky (even though I didn't know the name of the song)
Dr. No--from James Bond
Here are a couple of lists with videos. Which do you recognize?
Hotwire.com came out with the top destinations to commemorate Memorial Day. See the locations and the cost per night at local hotels.
Top 10 Destinations To Commemorate Memorial Day
Hotwire.com has announced the top 10 destinations to honor military heroes over Memorial Day weekend. Many tend to utilize this holiday to add another getaway to their travel schedule, but travelers should also consider using this time to observe the true meaning of Memorial Day. These locales not only have the appeal of the big city or warm beaches, but theyÂ’re also home to some of our military’s most prominent historical sites. The holiday was originally created after the Civil War to honor the fallen Union soldiers and over the last century the meaning has evolved to commemorate all American soldiers who served our country.
Destinations Memorial/Site Avg. Hotwire Hotel Price/Night 1. Washington DC WWII Memorial $95 2. Honolulu, HI USS Arizona Memorial – Pearl Harbor $128 3. San Diego, CA USS Midway Museum $89 4. New York, NY 9/11 Memorial $175 5. Gettysburg, PA Battle Field at Gettysburg $88 6. Arlington, VA Arlington National Cemetery $95 7. Boston, MA Granary Burying Ground $143 8. Seattle, WA Washington Memorial Park $93 9. Phoenix, AZ Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum $67 10.Long Beach, CA Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier $91
On Memorial Day:
May 28, 2012
7:00 am
to
10:00 am
The Rotary Club of Martinsburg will host their 3rd annual Pancakes 4 PolioPlus Breakfast at War Memorial Park. Breakfast includes pancakes, bacon/sausage, and beverage.
Proceeds from the event are donated to Rotary International Polio Eradication Fund, as well as buying shelter boxes for disaster survivors and providing scholarships for Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Summer Camps. Sponsorship opportunites are available by calling Mike Hornby at 304-851-7461 or emailing mike@aroundthepanhandle.com.
Also About.com has a lot of events in and around the DC area.
National Memorial Day Concert
Sunday, May 27, 2012, 8 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m.
PBS sponsors a FREE concert on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The concert features actors Joe Mantegna and Gary Sinise, and other guest artists along with the National Symphony Orchestra. See Photos of the Performers for the 2012 Concert.
National Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 28, 2012, beginning at 2 p.m.
The parade of Marching Bands and Veterans units from all 50 states steps off at the corner of Constitution Avenue and 7th Streets, NW and proceeds along Constitution Avenue, past the White House, ending at 17th Street. The National Memorial Day Parade is sponsored by the World War II Veterans Committee and includes patriotic floats and helium-filled balloons. See Photos of the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, DC.
Sunday, May 27, 2012. Departure from the Pentagon at 12 p.m. Speaker Program and Musical Tribute 1:30 p.m. at the Reflecting Pool across from The Lincoln Memorial. Thousands of motorcycles ride through Washington in an annual demonstration seeking to improve veteran benefits and resolve POW/MIA issues. See Photos of Rolling Thunder
Sunday, May 27, 2012, 10 a.m. The Buffalo Thunder Memorial Motorcycle Ride will begin in the Sears parking lot at 2101 Brightseat Rd in Hyattsville, MD and end at the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum at 1925 Vermont Ave NW in Washington, DC.
GI Film Festival
May 14-20, 2012. The festival is held annually just before Memorial Day weekend. See classic and premier films celebrating the heroic stories of the American Armed Forces including a variety of films presented by award-winning Hollywood actors and directors. Participate in panel discussions with soldiers, journalists, authors, and filmmakers.
Flags-In. Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) will be joined by service members from the U.S. Marine Corps Ceremonial and Guard Company, U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard in placing more than 250,000 grave decorating flags at Arlington National Cemetery. The flags will remain through Memorial Day.
Monday, May 28, 2012, 11 a.m. A wreath-laying ceremony and concert will be held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in honor of Memorial Day. See Photos of Arlington National Cemetery.
Monday, May 28, 2012, 4 p.m. The Women In Military Service For America Memorial, located at the gateway to Arlington National Cemetery, will hold a ceremony that includes formal military honors, a keynote address, wreath-layings and the Memorial’s signature event, the scattering of rose petals in tribute to departed comrades. Members of the public are invited to join in the personal tribute segment of the program.
Saturday, May 26, 2012, 11 a.m. Rolling Thunder visits the Navy Memorial and holds a wreath-laying ceremony featuring special guests and live performances.
Monday, May 28, 2012, 10 a.m. Fleet Reserve Association Wreath laying, 12 p.m. U.S. Navy Band Concert, 1 p.m. Naval District Washington Wreath laying.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Monday, May 28, 2012, 1 p.m.
This year's annual Memorial Day ceremony includes Presentation of the Colors, remarks by a special guest and wreath-laying service.
World War II Memorial
Monday, May 28, 2012, 9 a.m. The National Park Service and the Friends of the National World War II Memorial will sponsor a wreath-laying ceremony in honor of our veterans. Guest speakers will give remarks. The theme for the commemoration is "Honoring our Fallen Warriors." Many surviving WWII veterans will be in attendance.
Air Force Memorial
Monday, May 28, 2012, 9 a.m. wreath laying ceremony is open to the public. Activities include the national anthem, invocation, speeches, the laying of the wreath and the sounding of Taps.
President Lincoln's Cottage
Monday, May 28, 2012, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Take a free guided tour of the USSAH National Cemetery (predecessor of Arlington National Cemetery) at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Wreath laying ceremonies will also take place at the Soldiers' Home at 11:15 a.m. and at the Cemetery at 12:15 p.m. Tours of the Cottage will be available from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the regular price of $15 for adults and $5 for children. Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch. Advanced reservations for Cottage Tours are strongly recommended.
Major Events in Maryland and Virginia
Hometown Holidays
May 26-28, 2012. The city of Rockville's Memorial Day event is a three-day street festival with live music, children's entertainment, a parade and more.
Viva Vienna
May 26-28, 2012. Vienna, Virginia celebrates with a community festival including food, crafts, music, carnival rides and a Memorial Day tribute.
Wolf Trap National Park
Sunday, May 27, 2012, 8:00 p.m. Summer Blast Off! "The President's Own". The park for performing arts kicks off the summer season with a free performance by the U.S. Marine Band followed by fireworks. The Filene Center gates open at 6:30 p.m. Arrive early because the park closes once capacity is reached.
Sunset Celebration at Mount Vernon
May 25-27, 2012, 6-9 p.m. New family-friendly event! Enjoy evening tours of the Mansion, 18th-century music, dancing, games, and wagon rides. Stroll the lantern-lit grounds and visit with Lady Washington and her granddaughter Nelly. Admission: Adults, $18; children 6-11, $12; and children under 5 are admitted free.
Fort Ward Park, Alexandria, Virginia
Monday, May 28, 2012, 1-7 p.m. The annual Memorial Day Jazz Festival features big band, swing, and contemporary jazz music. Picnics are allowed and food and beverages will also be for sale. In case of inclement weather, the festival will be relocated to the Lee Center's Kauffman Auditorium, 1108 Jefferson St. Admission is free.
Falls Church Memorial Day Parade
Monday May 28, 2012, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City of Falls Church, Virginia celebrates Memorial Day with a festival featuring pony rides, arts and crafts booths, live entertainment, food and a community parade.
Delaplane Strawberry Festival
May 26-27, 2012, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sky Meadows State Park, Delaplane, VA. The annual festival includes live entertainment, children's games, pony rides, hayrides, a petting zoo, a 5K fun run, a raptor exhibit, antique cars, food, crafts and strawberries.
Chestertown Tea Party Festival
May 25-27, 2012. The historic river-front town on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay (about an hour and half from DC) kicks off each summer with a weekend of fun for the whole family including a tea toss reenactment, colonial parade, cocktail party, raft race, street performances, colonial crafts, strolling musicians, local fare, 5k & 10 mile run and more.
When you travel and have to leave your dog behind, you can call a kennel, hire a pet sitter – or find him a new friend online. The website DogVacay is now available throughout the United States and Canada. The site lets pet owners look up hosts in the area who will care for a dog in their own homes, giving a pet the food, exercise and attention you would give if you stayed home – sort of a doggy version of couch-surfing, for an average price of $25 to $30 a day. Hosts are checked out and interviewed by DogVacay and every owner and dog is encouraged to meet the host. DogVacay takes credit cards for payment when reservations are made, then pays the hosts.
I read this story about kids eating detergent...Read on.
Doctors Report Rise In Kids Eating Detergent Packs Miniature laundry detergent packets arrived on store shelves in recent months as an alternative to bulky bottles and messy spills. But doctors across the country say children are confusing the tiny, brightly colored packets with candy and swallowing them. Nearly 250 cases have been reported this year to poison control centers. Doctors say the symptoms they see in connection with ingesting the packets – such as nausea and breathing problems – are more severe than typical detergent poisoning. No deaths have been reported. Tide, Purex and other detergent manufacturers introduced different versions of the packets earlier this year. The lightweight, colorfully swirled plastic packets contain a single-use amount of detergent that dissolves in water. They’re intended to be dropped into a laundry machine in place of liquid or powder detergent.
Friday Toy Memory: Friday Night Movie Nights with Popcorn.I also remember watching my mom making popcorn with our Hamilton Beach Popcorn popper. I always thought it looked a little space age. Ours was that Groovy 70's avocado green!! We'd either use Jiffy Pop, which was always so cool to watch or we'd use this==============>>>
I saw this blog that seems to be largely dedicated to Jiffy Pop and all things Jiffy Pop. See ithere.
Since this weekend is Memorial Day weekend. A lot of you are going to be traveling the roads. Have you ever noticed that it seems the return trip home is much shorter than the original trip to your destination? Scientists have studied the phenomenon and have dubbed it the "Return trip effect". It happens when you anticipate the initial trip so much that you expect it to be faster than it was, thus making the return trip back seem shorter. Has that ever happened to you? Read more here.
Have you ever looked at the big old tag on your hair dryer and seen that it says something dumb like "Do not use in the shower"? Of course your NOT going to use it in the shower, 1) it's electric 2) the point is that you are trying to DRY your hair, not keep it wet! Apparently, there are people who have created the Wacky Label Contest for the past 15 years--who knew?. Here are the top 5 this year!
WackyWarningLabels
The Wacky Warning Labels Contest, now in its 15th year, has selected the 2012 finalists. The top five finalists are:
“Never use while sleeping.” – A label on an electric razor for men
“These globes should not be referred to for navigation.” – A 7-inch decorative globe
“Never use this product while driving.” – A “Laptop Steering Wheel Desk”
“Keep product away from infants and children.” – A neck pillow produced and marketed for children
“Caution: Griddle surface may be hot during and after cooking.” – Instructions that come with an electric skillet
Wacky Warning Labels is a project of The Center for America, a non-profit organization educating, motivating and empowering the American people to reduce barriers to free enterprise. See more about CFA and Wacky Warning Labels at www.centerforamerica.org. Hilarious past winners include:
“Remove child before folding” – on a baby stroller!
“Does not supply oxygen” – a label on a common dust mask
“Never operate your speakerphone while driving” – on a hands-free cell phone product called the “Drive ‘N’ Talk”!
“Not for use on moving vehicles” – the warning on the “Off-Road Commode,” a portable toilet seat that attaches to a trailer hitch!
“Danger: Avoid Death” – a warning on a small tractor!
“Harmful if swallowed” – a warning on a brass fishing lure with a three-pronged hook
“This product moves when used” – a warning on a popular children’s scooter!
Contest creator Bob Dorigo Jones, is the bestselling author of “Remove Child Before Folding: The 101 Stupidest, Silliest and Wackiest Warning Labels Ever,”
Maybe I'm realizing I need to diet? Look at the subject line of today's blog post...Hmmm.
I read the story of this little 9 year old girl in Scotland who is changing how we think about school lunches. While she's in another country, the same thoughts apply. Little Martha Payne has become a blogging sensation for posting reviews of her school lunches online. Her blog "Never Seconds" has over 100,000 followers and has even attracted the attention of Jamie Oliver. Martha photographs her lunch tray daily and gives it a rating out of ten. Her score card includes price, healthiness, how many mouthfuls she took, and whether or not the meal had any hair in it. The pint-sized foodie has since started asking students reading her blog to submit their own school lunch photos and ratings. Here's her blog called "Never Seconds"
This doesn't necessarily have to do with food but it has to do with that ever popular topic of weight loss. This is the deal.WWW.FATBET.NETgive you a way to create a goal for yourself, a wager you have to place and the accountability. Say I want to lose 10lbs by the end of June (doable I think). I would bet that I can lose that amount and if I DON'T, I'll donate $100 to one of my favorite charitiies (we'll say TheMaryland Ensemble Theatre for purposes of this example). If I don't lose the weight, I'll have to pay that amount at the end of the time. If I bet against a friend...my friend Joe can be that if he doesn't lose the weight by the set date, he'll run naked through a baseball game. So you can see how it can be a motivator right? Here's Fatbet.net
Howdy. I typed up this clever blog post about the things I talked about on the air this morning. Then, for some reason, the website timed out and my work wasn't saved DOH!
I have no idea what I typed so I'm just giving you a few brief tidbits about what I talked about today
Times are hard. Prices for food, gas and fun keep rising, yet our incomes canç¨ keep up. A new website, Living on the Cheap, says you donç¨ have to count squares of toilet paper or sacrifice cappuccinos to make ends meet. Run by 22 veteran consumer journalists, Living on the Cheap is packed with practical advice on everything from using coupons for healthy food to saving money on car repairs. Its savvy reporting helps you navigate the many restaurant and retail loyalty programs or decide whether a bargain cruise is really a bargain.
I love grillin...except for my grill at home is broken. Weber Grills has conducted their 23rd annual study about Americans and their grillin habits... read on.
Grillin’
When U.S. families gather to eat, they gather in large numbers around the grill, even for birthdays. The 23rd annual Weber GrillWatch Survey found 71% of U.S. adults own an outdoor grill and/or smoker, and almost three-quarters of grill owners use their grill at least once a week during the grilling season. Other findings:
71% of American grill owners said they’ll fire up their grill on Memorial Day, a 10% jump from last year’s survey.
The three foods grilled most often are hamburgers (73%), chicken (41%) and steak (40%).
Have you ever felt like complaining about a company/business but not sure how you'll get results? Try this website for ideas. Now, it's only works in UK but there are some things to try to get your desired outcome. www.howtocomplain.com
Sunny Friday! by Rona Rona,posted May 18 2012 11:22AM
I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to being outdoors in the sunshine this weekend. A few weeks ago, I read an article that says that compliments lighten a woman's mood even more than chocolate. The only thing that makes women happier than a compliment, is a sunny day! I'm not kidding. Read ithere.
Here are some other things I mentioned on the air this morning..
As we've all heard by now, the G8 Summit is being held at Camp David, this weekend. Some of the local authorities in the area have put together preparedness websites and information. I thought I'd share some of it with you...if you care. I'm still not convinced it's gonna be a "big deal". I'm taking a wait and see approach.
Martinsburg Airport serving as "reliever field" for local airports affected by G8 Summit. Read it here.
Frederick, MD officials have posted helpful information about road closures and other preparedness measures. Read here.
Now to quote Monty Python "Now for something completely different"
Tomorrow Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is helping raise money for Alex's Lemonade Stand which helps to fight childhood cancers. Beginning at 5:00pm on Saturday, May 19th, you can either buy lemonade or simply make a donation to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand.
Other random things...
Speaking of Hollywood Casino, this weekend is the Preakness so I'm sure there will be loads going on in Charles Town to celebrate.
Friday night May, 18th, the Wailers (as in Bob Marley used to play with them) will play! Cool.
Friday Toy Memory: Today isBike to Work Day. That got me thinking. What kind of "roadster" did you prefer as a kid?
Yeah, Hans Fogle (our trusty Newsguy from WEPM) often pops in when I'm on the air and shares fun things with me (stories, quips, web links...). He shared the "48 things that will make you feel old" found on Buzzfeed.com. I need to qualify this by saying Hans is about 10 years younger than my 41 years. So he gets a lot of the references on this page. I didn't get them all but I still felt old nonetheless. Check them out here
I'm back, like a bad penny! The last few days have been rough. I've never really enjoyed that hacking cough when you get a cold. I'm glad it went away pretty quickly.
So I read this story about this guy who put magnets in his skin....read on to find out why.
Man Inserts Magnets Into His Body To Make iPod Holder A man has created a magnetic iPod attachment within his own body. Dave Hurban, a 21-year-old professional body piercer from New Jersey, implanted four metal studs into his wrist and used them to secure his iPod to his body magnetically. “I just invented the strapless watch,” Hurban said, showing off his iPod which was set to display the clock graphic. Hurban says he mapped out the four corners of his iPod on his arm, and then put four titanium studs into his skin. Once that had healed he placed his iPod over it, letting it sit there magnetically. He has posted a video of how to do it on YouTube (it's here following the story). No word on what he plans to do if he ends up replacing his current iPod with a different-sized one.
I couldn't sleep because I was coughing all night.
When I finally did sleep, I overslept by an hour and a half.
I get here and my voice sounds like a man...I like to say George Burns. :(
I'm hopped up on cough medication (so I'm a little dazed out)
I know yesterday was Mother's day. Hopefully, you were good to your mom. I know lots of great moms who put it all on the line for their kids. Then, there are the ones on the opposite spectrum. I came across the list of these TV moms that go on the latter.
Worst TV Moms
Mob matriarch Livia Soprano, played by the late Nancy Marchand on “The Sopranos,” tops the list of the New York Post’s 10 worst television mothers. Coming in at No. 2 on the Post’s mom-mocking roster is Mary-Louise Parker’s pot-dealing character Nancy Botwin from “Weeds,” followed by Shirley Jones’ Shirley Partridge from “The Partridge Family” at No. 3. Here are the rest of the Top 10 Worst TV Moms:
4. Constance Towers’ serial kidnapper Helena Cassadine from “General Hospital.”
5. January Jones’ ice princess Betty Draper from “Mad Men.”
6. Estelle Harris’ hyper-critical nag Estelle Costanza from “Seinfeld”
7. Edie Falco’s pill-popping care-giver Jackie Peyton from “Nurse Jackie”
8. Jessica Walter’s manipulative Lucille Bluth from “Arrested Development”
9. Felicity Huffman’s scheming Lynette Scavo from “Desperate Housewives”
10. Katey Sagal’s neglectful Peg Bundy from “Married with Children”
Mother's day is almost here...of course you know that. Here's some little fun stuff about celebrity moms.
Spicy-Sweet Moms
Is your mom just plain sweet? Is she spicy, or maybe a bit of both? According to a survey, nearly 57% of people said they’d rather not know the spiciest thing their mom has ever done. With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, Good Earth Tea posted the first ever Sweet & Spicy Mother’s Day survey to Facebook, prompting respondents to take the time to ponder these queries, and also answer which celebrity moms they consider to be the sweetest or spiciest. Among the findings:
The “Sweetest Celebrity Mom” title went to Sandra Bullock, (33%), followed closely by Reese Witherspoon (27.3%), Jennifer Garner (23.8%), Meredith Vieira (9.7%) and Alyssa Milano (5.7%).
For the “Spiciest Celebrity Mom,” Angelina Jolie came in first place, (22.3%), with Sophia Vergara (21.9%), Joan Rivers (21.4%), Pink (17.9%) and Jennifer Lopez (16.5%) following close behind.
40% of respondents said they consider their mom to be all sweetness, with an equal number dubbing them sweet and spicy.
Over 61% of respondents said the sweetest thing their mom could do is cook their favorite dinner.
________________________________________________
Bad Mother’s Day Gift
When it comes to Mother’s Day gifts, it’s the thought that counts – or so they say. Deep down, however, moms yearn for a pleasant surprise. New survey results by the Christian Children’s Fund of Canada reveal that moms don’t always receive what they wish for on Mother’s Day. Here are some of the worst gifts moms say they’ve unwrapped:
1. A chainsaw
6. Frying pans
2. Divorce papers
7. Oven mitts
3. Household appliances
8. Shoehorns
4. Cookbooks
9. Vegetable shredder
5. Oversized clothing
10. White noise machine
Here's asiteto help you come up with some gift ideas last minute!
There's so much I want to put here today, I'm doing the old bullet point thing...
Experts in the Cell Phone Industry are having a conference this week in New Orleans they were saying a bunch of transactions will move to a "digital wallet" in the coming years. Read morehere.
Mother's day is upon us. If you are that procrastinatin type, you'll want to see if a gift from this site helps you out. Mother's Day Central has some craft ideas etc to break the procrasintaion.
Friday Toy Memory: Olan Mills Photography. I always liked the fake library background, the fake fall leaves, the wagon wheel props, the stump to lean on etc. It's funny that we were all so taken with those. Here are a few examples. Priceless
Justin Bieber is vying for "Son of the Year". Wouldn't it be cool if every mom had a son that wrote a song for her to thank her for everything on Mother's Day? Justin Beiber has just released a song called "Turn to You".
Meredith’s Parents Network has announced exclusive new findings from its second “Moms & Media” survey. The survey explored moms’ various media behaviors including preferences, consumption, and motivation. “Moms & Media 2” finds that for moms born between 1977 and 1994, there is no part of their lives that is media free. From the bathroom to the bedroom, these moms are checking Facebook, streaming television and reading magazines everywhere and anywhere they go. Findings include:
Moms Really Love Their Smartphones
They take their Smartphones everywhere – 21% of Millennial moms use their phone in the bathroom and 12% use it during sex!
81% of moms said shopping was the No. 1 way they use their Smartphone.
Moms have an average of 13 apps loaded on their phones.
Two-thirds of moms say that less than half of their apps are for their kids.
Moms Have A Love Hate Relationship With Facebook
The number of millennial moms on Facebook continues to rise – more than 8 in 10 moms are on the site.
38% of moms said status updates with too much personal information is their No.1 Facebook pet peeve.
22% of moms think that their Facebook Friends make too many political statements.
72% are frustrated by all of the recent Facebook changes to its format and privacy policies.
Moms have a love/hate relationship with Facebook, with 53% saying that they feel like it wastes their time.
96% of moms say it’s important to control who sees their personal information on Facebook.
55% of moms have de-friended companies on Facebook, too many messages and ads being the No. 1 reason.
In 2010, 22% of moms kept Facebook open on their computers all day; now 44% do, a 100% increase.
A year ago, moms had an average 151 Facebook friends, now she has 209.
Moms & TV
Moms spend 16 hours watching television weekly.
55% of moms watched live television in 2010 and now only 41% do.
Streaming is on the rise. 16% of moms streamed television in 2010. That number is now up to 23%.
Moms love their DVRs. 29% watched programming via DVR in 2010 and now 36% do.
84% of all moms avoid commercials when watching live television.
Have you ever dropped some food on the floor then picked it up and eaten it claiming the "3 second rule" in some circles it's been called the "5 second rule". At any rate, there is a Wikipedia pageabout it....naturally. What made me think of all this is that I saw a story about it onABC Newsin the wee hours of the morning last week. Check out the video belowor click this link.
Where Do You Stash Your Cash?
A new Marist poll asked Americans: Where do you stash your cash. The No. 1 place, at 27%, was the freezer. So where do the rest of us hide our cash at home?
19% said in their sock.
17% said there’s no good place to keep their cash inside the home.
I'm running a little late with my post today so it's gonna be bare bones:
There are still some rules of etiquette that apply in a business setting. Here's a list of "FiveRules of Business Etiquette that Matter Now". Good stuff. I like the idea of the Thank You note personally. I couldn't agree more. Read the 5 here.
I'm a clutterbug. Seriously, I pick up pamphlets, flyers, brochures or anything that strikes me. I came across 10 things that I can throw away today! (with no guilt). According to experts at Parade Magazine. Check it out (and feel free to use the list if you're a packrat too!)
Now the focus is on Mother's day. Earlier today, I chatted with my co-worker Hans Fogle. He and his wife are expecting their first child-a boy in a few weeks. I was asking him about baby names. I came across a list of some of the most manly boy names that are pretty popular now. We joked about some of them because they are a little absurd. No offense if you've named your kid Fox, or Diesel. Just my opinion. Here's the article.
If you find that you don't get enough of your veggies...there was a study that came out that said you should stare at an appetizing picture of something you REALLY want to eat like a steak or a slice of pizza and it will trick part of your brain into thinking that vegetables taste better. Interesting, who is going totry this?
I don't know that I think Cinco de Mayo is really a celebration (in this country) for anything other than making some tasty cocktails. To that end, here are 10 Unique Margarita recipes...YUM!
Also wanted to provide a few lower cal options for Cinco de Mayo... I love the website hungry-girl.com. She always has great ideas for low calorie foods. Here are some wonderful ideas and products for cinco de Mayo! Enjoy!
If you use Facebook, you probably aren't aware of the privacy settings. I know I don't use them. After reading this, perhaps you should become familiar with them. Here are some interesting facts to think about... Read the article here.
Nearly 13 million U.S. Facebook users do not use, or are not aware of the site’s privacy controls, according to a new Consumer Reports investigation on Facebook and privacy, potentially exposing personal information beyond their network of Facebook friends. The report also revealed that a projected 4.8 million people have posted about where they planned to go on a certain day, a potential tip-off to burglars, while 4.7 million have “liked” a Facebook page about health conditions or treatments, details that insurers might use against them. What Facebook knows about you:
39.3 million identified a family member in a profile
20.4 million included their birth date and year in their profile
7.7 million “liked” a Facebook page pertaining to a religious affiliation
4.6 million discussed their love life on their wall
2.6 million discussed their recreational use of alcohol on their wall
2.3 million “liked” a page regarding sexual orientation
Remember your prom? I do...sorta (it was a loooong time ago). I just read this about prom costs. My how times have changed. It's still a big deal but it also costs an arm and a leg!
Americans are spending more than ever on high school proms. A survey from Visa shows that the average American family with teenagers plans to spend $1,078 for each child on the prom, a 33.6% increase over the $807 spent last year. Those in the lower income brackets, less than $50,000, plan to spend even more: $1,307 per child. And those in the very lowest bracket, less than $20,000, plan to spend $1,200, which is more than 6% of their annual income. But the most staggering number came from those families earning between $20,000 and $30,000, who plan to spend an average of $2,635, which would represent almost 9% of annual income for those making $30,000. Those families are just above the federal poverty level, which is $23,050 for a family of four. So where is all that money going? Prom expenses vary widely, but the website promgirl.com offers these price ranges:
Prom tickets: Between $20 and $250, depending on location.
Pre-prom dinner: From $25 to $130 per person.
Hair, makeup and nails: $30 to $275.
Gown: Most prom dresses average between $100 and $400, but some families spend far more.
Photography: From $30 to $125 per person, depending on whether you use the official prom photographer or arrange for a private photographer.
Limousine: Limo rentals range from $200 to $500, but this cost can be split between group members.
John Tesh (our homie) who you hear on Lite 97.5 Monday-Friday from 2pm-7pm is coming to our area. He'll be bringing his Big Band to the Majestic Theatre in Gettysburg on Friday, May 11th at 8:00pm and the show looks great! Check out this video. Here is the link to the Majestic Theatre
Friday Toy Memory: Dressy Bessy and Dapper Dan. These were little dolls that you could put clothes on so you could learn the order of putting on your clothes (I guess that was the purpose?) Remember these guys?
Have you heard that this Saturday is going to have a Supermoon? What's a supermoon you ask? Read on!
The moon's most prominent, spectacular appearance of the year will happen on Saturday night at 11:34 p.m. [ET], when it becomes full on its closest approach to Earth. This coincidence makes this moon a Supermoon.The moon is reaching what is known as its perigee, the closest approach to earth in its orbit a mere 221,802 miles away. It will appear 16% brighter than the average full moon. Compared to when it's on the apogee side of its orbit, farthest away from earth, it
will be 14% bigger and 30% brighter. This Supermoon stands out from others due to how close together the perigee and full moon will occur in time. The full moon occurs at 11:34 p.m. [ET] and perigee follows at 11:35 p.m. The timing is almost perfect, says NASA. AccuWeather
astronomy blogger Daniel Vogler said, it looked back at other Super Moon data and cannot find any closer than that timing-wise, remarkable! During the March 19th Supermoon of 2011, the perigee and full moon were 50 minutes apart.
Smash Mouth's new music!
Early this morning, I played Smash Mouth's version of "I'm a Believer". Apparently a friend of mine is friends with one of the guys in the band. He's been putting "sneak peeks" of their new music on youtube. So, I'm sharing it with you! If he can put it on youtube then, it must be legal. If it isn't I'm only sharing what he posted. (that would be my attempt at covering my butt--should it come down to that). :)
Have you heard the story of the New Jersey woman who took her 5 year old daughter to the tanning booth? This story has sparked a lot of conversation. Personally, I think the woman has issues (among others I suppose).
1. She's addicted to tanning.
2. That addiction has skewed her judgement to allow her 5 year old developing child to do something that could be very dangerous. The jury is still out on how harmful tanning can be. Why would you subject a child to that? Here is a picture I found of her on NJ.com. She looks unnatural.
A New Jersey mom with a passion for tanning is facing a child endangerment charge for allowing her then-5-year-old daughter into a tanning booth. Authorities say Patricia Krentcil’s daughter, now 6, turned up at her elementary school in Nutley, New Jersey, with a sunburn on April 24th, prompting a school nurse to contact police. The extremely tan Krentcil, who almost looks black, appeared yesterday in a Newark courtroom where she pleaded not guilty to a charge of child endangerment. New Jersey is among several states that have adopted regulations prohibiting anyone age 14 or under from using ultraviolet devices because of the risk of skin cancer. Mom denied bringing her child into the tanning booth of a salon that she frequents.
Remember Glamour Shots? Those awful pictures from the 1990's that had the soft focus, bad lighting and all the props and big hair? Well I came across a list of the "12 Ways To Achieve The Very Best Glamour Shot". It's pretty comical. Check it out.
Sometimes I complain about Facebook because I waste so much time on it, but now I want to give them props for doing something really neat. You see, Facebook wants to help you share your organs. Users in the United States and the U.K. can enroll as organ donors via links to official registries on the world’s biggest social networking site, said CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The links should make it easier for people who want to donate their organs to sign up. Facebook users who are already organ donors can add that information to their profile page, now known as their timeline. Zuckerberg said his friendship with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who had received a liver transplant before he died last year, helped spur the idea, as did talks with his girlfriend Priscilla Chan, a medical student. More than 112,000 Americans are waiting for organs and 18 people die every day from the lack of available organs, according to Donate Life America, a nonprofit that is teaming with Facebook. That's gets a thumbs up in my book!!
I was watching Mad Men a few weeks ago and heard/saw a commercial for Internet Explorer. It had this song that really intrigued me. I only could pick up a few lyrics "...blah blah blah... too close to love you". Here is the link to the commercial (in case you're curious about it) So I take to google to figure it out. What I came up with is The singer is Alex Clare and the song is "Too Close". I'm all over it right now. Here's the weird video with dudes fencing in long robes. It gives me no idea what this song is supposed to be about but I have to admit, I still really like the song.
We all know Mother's day is coming up. Want a unique gift? How about a personalized song about your mom? I just came across...
Now you can put a little extra thought into your Mother’s Day gift with a little help from this site. YourPersonalSong.com has over 350 skilled musicians that can transform the details you provide about your mom into lyrics and melody for just $99. To get your Mother’s Day masterpiece underway, all it takes is a few minutes to complete a profile that describes mommy dearest – special interests, hobbies, favorite things, a special phrase – then select a genre for the song (pop, country, rock). Upon completing the order, a letter and certificate is sent to the recipient alerting them about their gift. Shortly after, they’ll receive an email with an mp3 file and a physical CD with the personalized song. You can choose to add photos or custom artwork on the CD, or a personalized message that will be printed inside the cover insert for a minimal fee.
One day I was driving around Martinsburg with my friend Amanda and we noticed this van that was all tricked out with whirlygigs on top, it had signs taped on the side about storm chasing and we were very intrigued. Have you seen this mystery van? Do you know this person? I'd love to talk to them and see how they got into it and what equipment they have. At any rate, perhaps those people would be interested in this site I heard about. While it's still a work in progress it's still neat!
This website is run by the National Association of Storm Chasers and Spotters (NASCAS). While it appears the website is still a work in progress some of the links are dead there still some cool stuff you can see on this site. In addition to daily updates and other events going on with the association, there an images & footage link that you will definitely want to check out. It shows everything from tornadoes to hail the size of softballs. There even a link to click on called Tornado Chasing Tours for those of you who are daring enough.
Summer movies are getting on a roll now! Two weeks ago we had Iron Man 3, last week The Great Gatsby debuted with success and now this week we have Star Trek Into Darkness! I saw it on Friday and I must say: BEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR so far! The 2009 reboot...
The Summer movie season is finally here, thanks to Robert Downey Jr. and Iron Man 3! This of course, is the third Iron Man movie, but is actually just as much a sequel to last year's blockbuster: The Avengers. If any of the Avengers (Captain America,...
Okay, normally I see movies right when they come out, but I waited a little while to see Oz: The Great and Powerful. I finally saw it and I loved everything about it! Great visuals, great 3D, great story, great cast, tons of family fun and magic! I am...
Happy Birthday to Jessica Biel (31), Julie Bowen (43), Buddy Valastro (36) and Santonio Holmes (29). And if your birthday is today: Happy Birthday to you too from 97.5 WLTF!
Christian Lopez is a friend of the West Virginia Morning Show and have stopped by to chat about AI (well, as much as he's allowed to say) and he played his new original song "As Far As I May Go". Gooood stuff. Check it out.
Thanks for tuning in!
I read the story of this little 9 year old girl in Scotland who is changing how we think about school lunches. While she's in another country, the same thoughts apply. 
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Friday Toy Memory: Olan Mills Photography. I always liked the fake library background, the fake fall leaves, the 
I don't know that I think Cinco de Mayo is really a celebration (in this country) for anything other than making some tasty cocktails. To that end, here are 
Have you heard that this Saturday is going to have a Supermoon? What's a supermoon you ask? 
Remember Glamour Shots? Those awful pictures from the 1990's that had the soft focus, bad lighting and all the props and big hair? Well I came across a list of the "