.

JoePREP

2009-06-24T07:21:00.004-04:00

Woman says she was evicted over Easter decor BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - A woman is going to court claiming she was wrongly evicted from her apartment because she kept her Easter decorations on her door for two weeks after the holiday. Carol Burdick claims her landlord unjustly told her to remove a display of Easter stickers, plastic grass, and...

Virginia man wins spelling title after 51 years CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - It took Michael Petrina Jr. 51 years to finally win a national spelling bee. The Arlington, Va., man bested 45 other spellers older than 50 to win the AARP's annual National Spelling Bee Saturday in Cheyenne. The 64-year-old's winning word was "woad," a plant whose leaves...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY....
Mark Lowry - Gaither Vocal Band, comedian (51)

UPLIFTING KID SAFE THOUGHT -
"Search me O God and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." --Psalm 139:23-24

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-29T23:42:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to take a minute a share some of the many things for which I am thankful. In not particular order:

- My kids - wife - family - that I have a house to call home - that God blessed me with the ability to walk when doctors said I would not - the opportunity to do what I've always wanted to do, radio - my new jeep - great friends - an improving relationship with my brother - and too many others to mention.

I encourage you to take a moment and give thanks. It's something we seldom do, but it can really help you see what is really important.

2008-07-29T11:31:00.002-04:00

A get-away car might have come in handy for a suburban Chicago man arrested after gas station employees say they watched him walk home after he robbed them. Police say they think 31-year-old Sean Gallagher of Bolingbrook robbed the same gas station three times since December. His home is about 200 yards away. Police Lieutenant Ken Teppel says during last week's robbery, police arrived in time to have employees point out Gallagher as he walked home. The lieutenant says Gallagher has made statements suggesting he was involved in two other robberies at the gas station in December and June. He's being charged with three counts of armed robbery.

"Lost" answers are on the way. One of the show's writer-producers told a crowd at Comic-Con "We have 34 hours left for you guys to see: seasons five and six. We owe answers. We know the answers that we owe." The other "Lost" writer added "We know where we're going and we know how long we have left to tell the story." But, he hedged by saying "There's also an organic process that goes on" and compared the process to a road trip, which often includes alternate routes and unexpected stops. The two say they'd like Mr. Eko to return. Hard to believe, but it turns out the actor who played Mr. Eko didn't like living and working in Hawaii so they wrote him out of the show.

UPS driver Jeff Hornagold has made one last run in the big, brown truck -- to the great beyond. The suburban Chicago man died of lung cancer. So, longtime co-worker Michael McGowan delivered his buddy's body to the funeral in their UPS truck. Judy Hornagold says her late husband was "just the happiest UPS man alive." She says the final delivery is the perfect tribute. ***Wonder if St. Peter has to sign for him?

Thanks!!!

2008-03-07T10:35:00.003-05:00

I just want to say a huge, heartfelt, thank you to all of you that have come to check the blog since the link was removed from WAKW.com. It really means more than you know. The number of people viewing the page has been extremely low. That is why there have been few, if any, new posts. It doesn't look like the link will be coming back.

I'm really struggling right now with whether or not to continue. My "visible" role is being cut more and more everyday at the station. I'm doing a lot of "behind the scenes" work, but that's just not where my heart is. Please pray for me and my family as we look for leading.

Feel free to comment below or email anytime...If you have a myspace...check mine out and maybe we can stay connected that way.

Thanks for all the faithfulness over the years. Please know that it was not taken for granted.

I miss spending time with you on the radio...keep checking in. Maybe I'll be back?

JoeNEWS Links

2008-02-27T07:11:00.002-05:00

"The Rock" As The Tooth Fairy - Dwayne Johnson will star as the title character in "The Tooth Fairy"...

Man Builds Cage For Car - to stop thieves kidnapping parts and demanding ransom money...

JoeNEWS Links

2008-02-26T13:13:00.002-05:00

Miley and Billy Ray To Host CMT's - Cyrus, 46, made it big on the country and pop charts in 1992 with his hit "Achy Breaky Heart." These days, he plays Miley's dad on "Hannah Montana"...

GPS Sends Driver To Dead End - Modern technology is steering some drivers the wrong way...
(They need a BubbaTracker - click audio archive to the left)

More Changes?

2008-02-24T21:57:00.000-05:00

Maybe you've heard about the coming change to mornings on WAKW. Monday you'll hear Scott & Sam. They're going to be a great addition...

Sadly, it means the end of JoeNEWS...at least on the air. I may continue providing useless news here. Let me know if it's something you want. Vote in the poll and email your thoughts...

JoeNEWS Links

2008-02-24T19:01:00.003-05:00

Mc'D's Going Feng Shui - Only familiar are the golden arches and the menu. Leather seats, earth tones, bamboo plants and water trickling down glass panels have taken their place...

Heavy Foot? Find Out Where It's Legal - Since 1995, states have been free to set their own maximum speed limits...To some folks, the speed limits are just insane -- either too low or too high, depending on their views about what makes driving safe...

Elmo Doll Threatens Child? - The Bowman family, of Lithia, Fla., said an Elmo doll belonging to their 2-year-old son, James, began to spout death threats towards him after they changed its batteries... See it for yourself.

News Links

2008-02-22T11:23:00.003-05:00

NFL Gives OK to Church SuperBowl Parties - The NFL will allow church groups to show the Super Bowl on large-screen televisions, reversing a policy that drew criticism from elected officials...

Kitty Moves From FL to AZ in a POD - Three weeks inside a sealed container -- no food, water or fresh air --

Taxman Wants Your Money or Your Blood? - Taxmen are offering Poles the chance to pay their tax bills in blood...

2008-02-22T11:14:00.002-05:00

-Online Edition-

Doctors in India removed a toothbrush from a man's stomach a week after he accidentally swallowed it. The man says he swallowed it while brushing his teeth in front of the TV. ***His toothbrush was easier to swallow than the new “Knight Rider.”

Reuters reports that a fanatical anti-smoker in Bielfeld, Germany, became enraged when his girlfriend lit up a cigarette and refused his demand to put it out. So he grabbed a fire extinguisher and emptied it all over her and the apartment. A police spokesman said, "It looked like a bomb had gone off in there. He managed to put the cigarette out though." He added that the man said "he wasn't bothered by the damage it caused, and that he's through with his girlfriend.

Having just been dropped as spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, Kirstie Alley announced that she will launch her own weight loss brand in 2009. ***I’m not joining a Kirstie Alley weight loss program. I won’t join a Jenny Craig program either. I’m holding out for a weight loss program from Betty Crocker.

2008-02-21T06:46:00.001-05:00

Bald may be beautiful, but for guys who don't share that opinion, help could be on the way. A Florida company says it's come up with a handheld laser device that promotes hair growth. And now they say they've got the O-K from federal regulators to sell it. The "Hairmax Lasercomb" as it's known, is a combination of a low-level laser and a comb. It went through a six-month clinical trial, during which it increased the number of thick hairs on the scalp. The device is only sold online, and it's not cheap. It retails for 545 dollars.

The hottest new wedding activity is to trash the wedding dress after the ceremony. Yes, that dress that likely cost several hundred dollars. The most popular way so far to “trash the dress” is for the groom to use it as a paintball target with the bride still in it.

A Jefferson County, New York man, trying to evade a patrol car that was following him, pulled into a driveway hoping to make it look like he had just arrived at home. Turns out it was THE driveway of the deputy who was following him at the time.

2008-02-20T09:11:00.002-05:00

Charleston, West Virginia Mayor Danny Jones had a problem getting through airport security at a California airport after realizing he had misplaced his driver's license. Fortunately, as guards at John Wayne Airport in Orange County searched his bag, they found a copy of Charleston Magazine which included a photograph of the Mayor. They let him through.

Alaska State Trooper Howard Peterson was driving on the Seward Highway south of Anchorage when something big and black fell out of the sky about 20 feet in front of his patrol car. At first he thought it was falling rock but it didn't move or shatter. Turns out a moose had fallen from the 150-foot cliffs near the highway. While sheep are often seen on the cliff, he said spotting a moose is very rare.

A fisherman in England caught a world-record minnow, a four-and-a-half inch fish weighing in at 5-1/4 ounces. ***He’s having it mounted, but it's too small for his fireplace – so he’s hanging it over his cigarette lighter.

2008-02-15T06:50:00.002-05:00

Members of the Waukegan, Ill., city council are demanding an apology from whoever put a joke memo in the pay envelopes of municipal workers. The memo demanded two weeks' notice in case of death, and called for the firing of any worker who undergoes surgery since it would "make you less than we bargained for."

It’s the end of an era….Polaroid is going to stop making its instant-film.

From the “I wish I knew that yesterday file”…..A British supermarket chain introduced a line of Valentine cards for cheap men that cost just 14 cents each.

Donnie Harvey stopped by to visit a friend in the York County Jail. His friend was in for armed robbery and unfortunately, Donnie was also wanted in the same case. Cops think he had stopped by to make sure his friend wasn't going to "rat on him." Now he won't need to.

Strike's Over...When Will My Show Return?

2008-02-14T07:24:00.002-05:00

Click the headline for a pretty comprehensive list of when/if you're favorite shows will return with new episodes. ***YEAH....more Lost!!! The news about The Unit is a bit of a downer.

News Links

2008-02-14T07:10:00.002-05:00

Science Behind Fairy Tales -- "recent scientific research suggest that what readers might mistake for fantasies and exaggeration could be rooted in reality."

No Longer "World's Fattest" -- The Mexican man dubbed the world's fattest by the Guinness Book of World Records has dropped 570 pounds...

Billy Graham In Fair Condition -- Evangelist Billy Graham underwent successful surgery Wednesday to update a shunt that controls excess fluid in his brain, and was expected to remain in the hospital for several days.

2008-02-13T06:37:00.002-05:00

Frank Oresnik reached a milestone this week with his 1991 Chevy Silverado pickup truck. 1-million miles. He says he had the oil changed so many times the drain plug had to be re-threaded several times.

Val Kilmer is going to be the voice of KITT the car in the upcoming "Night Rider" TV movie. Also in the works….an A-Team movie.

Miley Cyrus is in hot water with Consumer Reports magazine for a scene in the Hannah Montana movie in which Miley and her dad are seen not wearing seat belts. Jessi and I didn’t notice…

UKTV Gold television surveyed 3,000 Britons and found that people today have a shaky grip on reality. Three percent thought Charles Dickens was fictional, 23 percent thought Florence Nightingale and Winston Churchill were myths, and 47 percent thought King Richard the Lionheart wasn't real. On the other hand, 59 percent thought Sherlock Holmes really existed. ***And 20 percent thought Al Gore was a real person!

Food Questions You Always Wanted To Ask...

2008-02-12T11:15:00.000-05:00

Wanna stay on the healthier side of the street? Then here are the answers to some random food questions, courtesy of Rodale Publishing.

Is it safe to eat sliced turkey after that slimy goo starts forming on it? If it passes the “sniff test,” slime or no slime, it’s safe to gobble. Dr. Brian Nummer, a food-safety professor at Utah State University, says the goo forms when harmless bacteria start eating the sugars some manufacturers add to sliced turkey for flavor. However, if your sliced turkey smells “off,” toss it – because it could make you sick. Your best bet: buy pre-sliced and packaged turkey. It’s often heat-treated in the package, making it good for at least 7 days after you open it. What’s at the deli counter is exposed to more bacteria from the get-go – so toss it after 7 days, whether you’ve opened the package or not.

Are dark chocolate M&M’s good for you? Of course, dark chocolate contains disease-fighting flavonoids. The higher the concentration of natural cacao, the better. However, dark chocolate M&M’s are only 40% cacao – 20% less than most dark chocolate bars. So, if you want a flavonoid-filled treat, stick with true dark chocolate – not candy-coated dark chocolate wannabes.

What’s healthier to drink with dinner – beer or red wine? Red wine wins! Experts say it packs more health benefits and fewer calories per serving than beer. For example, if you have one drink, a glass of red wine will run 100 calories. While a bottle of beer is about 150 calories. Red wine also contains more free radical-fighting antioxidants - including resveratrol, which scientists believe prevents everything from Alzheimer’s to hardening of the arteries.

2008-02-12T08:13:00.001-05:00

You may think your one true love is the most important thing in your life, but you would probably be wrong. It appears our home computers take that honor. A recent study finds that 65% of Americans spend more time with their computer than their spouse or significant other.

Brian Waltermyer walked into the Integrity Bank in York County, PA, wearing a hood. As he approached the teller, carrying a note demanding money, the teller asked him to remove the hood - bank policy. So he did, giving the bank surveillance cameras a crystal clear view of his face. Waltermyer was arrested on Monday. Maybe he’ll get points for adhering to bank policy.

Guys, listen up! This is your one opportunity to convince the lady that she should go shopping by herself this weekend! A British researcher says that shopping is bad for a man’s health! Male stress levels skyrocket when faced with crowded stores, choosing gifts, and standing in check out lines. Psychologist David Lewis did the study and found that the heart rate and blood pressure of a man shopping resembled that which you would expect to find in a fighter pilot going into combat, or policeman going into a dangerous situation. ***What kind of a choice is THAT? I’ll die if I go shopping – or my wife will kill me if I don't!

2008-02-11T06:48:00.000-05:00

In Japan, a 54-year-old motor biker failed to notice that his leg had been severed below the knee after hitting a safety barrier and continued to ride for more than a mile. Although admitting he felt excruciating pain, he didn't notice that his right leg was actually missing until he stopped at the next intersection.

Last week, San Francisco voted on whether to replace the old Alcatraz Prison with a "global peace center."

Two Idaho, men were arrested for polluting because they dumped dirt in a forest.

Americans tend to identify so much with their automobiles that they often give their cars nicknames and even talk to them while they're driving, according to a recent poll. 20% of drivers name their car. The #1 nickname is Betsy, followed by Nelly, Blue and Baby. Three in 10 think their car has a gender. 23% of drivers think their cars are female while only 7% perceive their cars as being male.

Where's Joe?

2008-02-07T13:59:00.000-05:00

Great question. I'm taking a couple of days off of work to do some family stuff...I'll be back on the radio Monday.

Sam was selected to the Kentucky All-State Chorus. So all day Wednesday and Thursday she is taking part in some intense practice for Thursday nights concert. My wife Lisa is a chaperon, so she is sitting in on all the rehearsals, she says the concert is going to be amazing.

Jessi and I took the opportunity Wednesday night to go see the Hannah Montana concert movie. At the risk of having my man card suspended...I have to admit it wasn't bad. $15 bucks a ticket was a bit much, but we had fun.

Did you take your kids to see it? Any thoughts?

News Links

2008-02-05T09:52:00.000-05:00

You're Too Fat To Eat Here -- A state lawmaker wants to ban restaurants from serving food to obese customers — but please, don’t be offended...

DIY Health Records -- Just like with do-it-yourself taxes, a growing software industry lets patients create their own "personal health records...

Chicago, Home Of The Hottest Wings -- "It's basically like getting tear-gassed,"...

2008-02-05T06:24:00.000-05:00

Police in Aloha, Oregon, found an accused mail thief in an unusual hiding spot. He first managed to elude the officers by hiding around various houses in a residential neighborhood until one resident heard someone closing the lid on his outdoor hot tub. Police then found Mathew hiding inside and arrested him on charges ranging from mail theft to criminal trespassing.

A British study has found that stress at the office raises your risk of heart disease, especially if you’re under 50. ***In other words, work can kill you, don’t do it.

Just in time for NEXT Valentines Day, Japanese researchers have found a way to make blue roses.

According to authorities, they're armed, dangerous and stupid. That's also according to Australian state police who say some bungling bandits couldn't negotiate the door at a seafood restaurant. Williams says the sliding glass door was clearly marked "slide" but the masked robbers repeatedly kicked and pushed it. The frustrated would-be bandits never did get in.

News Links

2008-02-04T13:15:00.000-05:00

Roses Are Red....and Apparantly Blue -- Think that red roses are predictable? In Japan, gift-givers soon will also have the option of blue roses...

Did You Double Dip? -- "That's like putting your whole mouth right in the dip!"...

2008-02-01T08:54:00.000-05:00

Like the Terminator, KiRo is a robot out to destroy mankind -- not with weaponry but with foosball skills. Scanning the table 50 times a second with a huge electric eye, this baby outwits puny humans with artificial intelligence and precision machinery. Although KiRo beats 85 percent of casual players, his designer admits it "has no chance against league players -- yet."

A nasal spray made from Atlantic Ocean seawater seams to ease cold and flu symptoms faster for children. In the twelve week test the noses of children given the seawater spray were less runny the second time they were checked.

Court officials in Wilimington, Delaware are red in the face with embarrassment over the woman they hired to be their Spanish-Language courtroom translator. She had the job for ten years and no one realized she couldn't speak a word of Spanish.

Police in Romania, were surprised to get a complaint from a monk that someone had broken into his cave and stolen $5600 worth of computer, TV and mobile phone equipment. ***I can’t get a decent cell signal in my car, and this guy got internet access, cable TV, and a cell signal in a CAVE.

Inovation At Its' Best....Or Worst?

2008-01-30T09:35:00.000-05:00

Honestly....I'm not sure. If you read German you can follow the link to order lunch. If you don't...just click it to see that I'm not making this up.

News Links

2008-01-30T06:37:00.000-05:00

Honest 6-year-old Finds Wad Of Cash -- When asked who taught him to be so honest, the boy simply responded, "God".

Paula and Randy At The Super Bowl, But Not "LIVE" -- Stage jitters, nerves and bad memories of past shows are keeping Paula Abdul from performing live during Super Bowl XLII...

Marie Osmond Back To Daytime TV -- Osmond, who hosted "Donny & Marie" with her brother, said the new show, called "Marie," will focus on topics of interest to women...

You Want A Diploma With That? -- New on the McDonald's menu: a takeaway diploma...

2008-01-30T06:31:00.000-05:00

Curiosity nearly killed the cat after his head got wedged inside an empty can of cat food. Unable to free himself, the frantic feline began hurling himself against a fence. Animal welfare officers used a lubricant to free the cat. But both sides of his head had to be shaved and now he looks a bit like Mr. T.

No hugging allowed!" on the playgrounds of an elementary school in Canada. The principal of the Gimli Early Middle School in Gimli, Manitoba, said her students have been told to stop the hugging and to reward each other by giving "pats on the back, shaking hands or high-fives." She says hugging in the hallways is getting out of hand. It seems students were gathering in the morning and at recess and forming "hugging chains" that were causing disruptions.

According to the Consumer Electronics Association, this years’ Super Bowl is expected to drive the purchase of 2.4 million high-def televisions. *** I wonder how many of those will be returned to the store on Super Bowl Monday.

Slim-Fast has made an offer to Eminem to be their new spokesman. After recent reports that he had ballooned up to over 200 pounds, Slim-Fast made an offer to help him return to his former Slim Shady self. ***With a name like Eminem (M&M) how can you NOT put on a few?

2008-01-29T06:55:00.000-05:00

"Star Wars" fan brothers Barney and Daniel Jones of Anglesey, Wales, have founded the UK Church of the Jedi. They said they've found Jedi religions on the Internet, but they plan to open an actual church. The congregation will wear black, and they will wear brown Jedi master robes and deliver sermons on the Force, light saber training and meditation techniques.

Four Lebanese university students were jailed for a week for making crude remarks about a woman's singing talents on Facebook. **They should move to America; making nasty personal insults is what we invented “American Idol” for.

A New York construction worker who went to the E.R. after being hit in the head by a wooden beam is suing the hospital for forcibly giving him a prostate exam.

New Scientist magazine reported on a number of new Internet-related addictions, including Cyberchondria, which means the fear that you have every disease you read about on the Internet. ***You know you are addicted to the Internet when: Writing a letter, you find yourself placing "com" after every period.

2008-01-25T11:03:00.000-05:00

Send your thoughts and prayers

to the Burgess family...

News Links

2008-01-25T10:21:00.000-05:00

87 Year Old Woman Flooded With Chocolate -- When Elizabeth Emerson confessed to a newspaper that her only real indulgence has been an occasional chocolate bar during her 87 years, she wasn't prepared for the sweet response...

Woman Searching for Father Discovers ... It's Her Boss -- Her mother died two months after giving birth to Tran, leaving the baby an engraved gold ring and a photo of her Taiwanese father, who did not know she existed...

2008-01-25T06:56:00.000-05:00

Some people just don't know how to take no for an answer. In a Washington courtroom, John Flora was defending himself against charges that he stalked a woman for years. Claiming he was innocent, he destroyed his case when the alleged victim walked into the courtroom. At that moment, he leaped up thrust a $5,000 ring in her face and asked her to marry him.

Britain's Travelodge motel chain released a list of the oddest items that forgetful guests had left behind in their rooms in 2007. Among them: false teeth, a suitcase full of diamond jewelry, a $24,000 (US) necklace, a pet cat, an urn of cremated ashes, a glass eye, the keys to a Bentley, prosthetic limbs, a 6x6-foot remote control model helicopter, and a small child.

KIDDIE Litter?
A busy mom from California is introducing a controversial new method of potty training: the kiddie litter box. She says the kids just seem to love using it. Critics say the concept is inhumane, but she claims it’s a big help getting kids on the right track for potty training in the future. **Even if this idea worked, you could never again let your kids loose to play in the school sandbox.

News Links

2008-01-24T07:28:00.000-05:00

Fighting With Your Spouse is Good For You -- Couples who suppressed their anger have a mortality rate twice as high as those in which at least one partner stands up for themselves...

Thieves Crash Car With Stolen Cow In Back Seat -- Thieves in Malaysia stole an adult cow, squeezed it into the back seat of a car and drove off with it...

Bigfoot On Mars? -- "NASA scientists have been puzzled by the peculiarly life-like image,"

News Links

2008-01-23T10:09:00.000-05:00

$1 Coffee At Starbucks? -- Starbucks is testing the 8-ounce "short brew," which comes with with free refills...

Drastic "Cure" For Diabetes -- Patients who had surgery to reduce the size of their stomachs were five times more likely to see their diabetes disappear over the next two years...

Are You In Cell Phone Jail? -- You don’t go buy the new phone, or get the cheap new plan. You don’t reward the more efficient company with your business. You can’t...

2008-01-23T06:53:00.000-05:00

Police in Sydney, Australia, are looking to track down their prized police dog Jed. Jed apparently broke out of his police yard home on New Year's Eve when he was frightened by a big New Year's fireworks show. Ironically, he's trained to detect explosives.

A new study says that about 20% of people eat a diet composed entirely of just 10 or fewer foods.

Imagine walking into the kitchen, flipping on a light, and automatically be able to see what’s in the fridge, without ever opening the door! It’s coming -- Inventor Bruce Lambert has developed a refrigerator with a mirror as the door and when a light is turned on inside the fridge, it turns into a clear window so you can see the food inside without opening the door. His purpose for the invention? One, it saves energy and two, it encourages dieting because people can see their reflections as they approach the door.

Do you have a hard time keeping plants and flowers alive? Help could be on the way! Researchers at Edinburgh University have pioneered a genetically modified "super potato'' that glows when it needs water and the same could be done in your plants a few years down the road.

Thoughts and Prayers

2008-01-22T11:53:00.000-05:00

I don't know if you've heard of Rick and Bubba. They are a radio team out of Birmingham. Over the weekend Rick's two-year-old son drowned in the family swimming pool.

You can read more about the story here... My thoughts and prayers go out to Rick and his family. I encourage you to lift up a quick prayer for them.

I can't imaging what they are going through, and the loss they must feel. My heart breaks for them.

"DIY Religion" A Bad Thing?

2008-01-22T11:30:00.000-05:00

Some interesting stuff in this article but seriously, is anyone surprised by the results?

"those replacing traditional religious beliefs with trendy, self-focused religions and spirtuality are not the happier for their attempts."

Click the headline to see the whole story.

2008-01-22T06:15:00.000-05:00

A vacuum cleaner saved the life of a 70-year-old man when it was used to suck out a rice cake on which he was choking. The sticky rice cake (known as mochi) is made of glutinous rice, is traditionally served during New Year's in Japan. The rice cake was stuck in his throat, so his daughter grabbed a vacuum cleaner and sucked it right out.

What's new? How about baloney-flavored bubble gum? It's out there.

A toothless man in Brazil was arrested for stealing toothbrushes, and he admitted he had no idea why he did it.

Want to make more money? Eat more green beans! A new study out of Washington shows that people who eat green beans at least three times a week earn more money than people who don't. Researching can't explain the connection between green beans and earning power, but they say it definitely exists.

New Toy...

2008-01-21T06:33:00.000-05:00

After trying for weeks to find a Nintendo Wii we finally went to plan b over the weekend. Lisa, the girls, and I went and bought a Play Station 2 over the weekend. Yes, I know that PS3 is out. One step at a time...ok?

In addition to the PS2 we got a late Christmas present...ROCKBAND! You've probably seen the commercials. Oh man! It is awesome! My arms and leg are killing me from rocking out on the drums. Why is video game guitar harder to play than the real thing?

Web Links

2008-01-21T06:24:00.000-05:00

Typical Person Lies How Much? -- The most commonly told lie is ‘Nothing’s wrong — I’m fine’...

Cell Phones Linked To Insomnia -- Uusing the phones before bed delays and shortens the deep stages of sleep—the part of sleep that allows the brain and body to repair and rejuvenate...

Four Steps To Conquer Emotional Eating -- When emotions determine your eating habits rather than your stomach, it can quickly lead to overeating...

2008-01-21T06:15:00.000-05:00

Figures released by the Earth Policy Institute say that there is enough wind energy in North Dakota, Kansas and Texas to meet power needs of the entire country. ***We all know where the hot air originates.

Astronomers have discovered a dead star that is a lump of diamond 4000 km across, or 10 billion trillion trillion carats.

An Irish woman was so fed up with her husbands snoring that she took extreme action this week and shot him! She finally "cracked" after 10 years of bed shaking, window rattling, freight train like snoring. Everything they tried came up short so she took out her gun and shot him. Good news – he’s be okay, she’s in jail Better news – she won’t hear him snoring anymore.

63-year-old Joel Crytzer was charged with marijuana possession in Butler, Pennsylvania, after officers spotted some dope on the floor of his car. It looks as if Joel is a bit of a dope as well, because the cops initially stopped him because he had been cruising down the road, seemingly oblivious of the fact that his car had only three tires.

2008-01-18T06:51:00.000-05:00

What kind of neighbors do you have? Folks in Houston, Texas were so fed up with one of their neighbors that they took action! Fed up with parties late at night, friends coming and going at all hours, and his persistence in being a pain that they bulldozed his house to the ground while he was out of town. Police still have no idea which of the neighbors did the dirty work.

The FDA has approved a diet pill for dogs that must be administered once or twice daily. ***Developers obviously have never tried to give a dog a pill. Sure you can stick it in a piece of cheese but that defeats the purpose.

An Australian biotech company has invented an implant that gives you a perfect tan in just two days. The tiny high-tech device is put under the skin to stimulate melanin production which results in a suntan that lasts two months.

The New York Post claims that Sanjaya Malakar and his sister are about to shoot a pilot for their own variety show that will include singing, dancing and comedy. *** Sanjaya will provide all three simultaneously.

Random thought...

2008-01-17T13:13:00.000-05:00

Is it just us or does having a sick kid throw every shred of normalcy out the window in your house too? Jessi is finally back at school today. Can somebody please come up with a way to make medicine taste better? Yes, they can flavor it at the pharmacy, but seriously! If you add bubble gum flavor to pickle juice it's not gonna be any better.

News Links

2008-01-17T12:56:00.000-05:00

X-Files Back To The Big Screen -- "There were kids who couldn't watch it on TV because it was too scary. Now they're in college. I wanted a movie that everyone could go to."

Troy Bolton Hospitalized -- The "High School Musical" star Zac Efron underwent emergency surgery Tuesday...

Computer Helps Dogs Talk? -- Software could allow people to better recognize dogs' basic emotions...

News Links

2008-01-15T13:04:00.000-05:00

Church Passing Out Free Shot Glasses -- “The people that will have the biggest problem with what we are doing [are those] who already have a home in heaven or go to church somewhere."

Unchurched Adults: Turned Off, But Open -- A majority of unchurched Americans are turned off by the institutional church, yet they believe Jesus makes a positive difference in a person's life and would enjoy an honest discussion with a friend about spiritual matters.

SCC's Shaohannah's Hope

2008-01-10T09:50:00.000-05:00

Shaohannah's Hope exists to enable children living without the love and hope of an earthly family to be adopted into "covenant homes." These families can provide not only the love and support needed for this life, but also provide a child with the knowledge of God's plan for his or her eternal life...Find out more or help out here.

2008-01-09T08:58:00.001-05:00

Comedian Living In IKEA Store - "The fact that Ikea is letting me do this is mind-boggling,"

American Idol Loses Record Deal - The soul singer, who won the televised singing competition in 2006, has apparently been dropped by J Records...

Calf Born With Virgina Tech Logo? - The wife of one of the calf's owners was watching a Virginia Tech football game one day, when she glanced over at the calf, and saw the VT logo. She couldn't believe her eyes...

***I really don't think so!!!

Couch Surfing?

2008-01-09T08:28:00.000-05:00

If you’d like to feel more like a local when you travel, this website’s for you. It’s called Couch Surfing.com. And instead of staying in a commercial hotel or youth hostel, you can arrange to literally sleep on someone’s couch.

You can also meet other people in your destination city. One of the postings we found is a guy giving a house party with friends and family – and any couch surfers in the area are welcome.
You can also register to have travelers come stay with you. Fans say it provides an authentic experience you won’t find in guidebooks. And you might even make a lifelong friend.

Couch Surfing is a free, nonprofit service with more than 60-thousand registered members who host people in 200 countries. It was founded by Casey Fenton, who didn’t have the money to visit Iceland. So, he emailed hundreds of local students asking for a place to crash. And within minutes, he got dozens of offers of couches, friendship, and personal tours.

So, what about safety concerns? The website requires people to recommend you and vouch for you, and verifies your identity. And they’ve got a good track record. If you’d like a more authentic travel experience, check out the web site at www.CouchSurfing.com.

Want To Release Your Inner Genius?

2008-01-09T08:24:00.000-05:00

Wanna boost your brain power and become the smartest person in the room? Here’s how to release your inner genius, according to Oprah Winfrey and Albert Einstein. This intelligence is from Woman’s World magazine:

Let your imagination run wild! Albert Einstein was certainly one of the smartest men who ever lived, but he claimed he wasn’t brilliant because of his IQ. He believed he was smart because of his ability to free his imagination – so he could consider infinite possibilities. He was quoted as saying: “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” So, channel your inner Einstein by retraining your brain to think creatively. Try “streamwriting.” Basically, writing down everything that comes to mind, without stopping to think or to edit yourself. Start by posing a problem on paper as specifically as you can. Like, “How can I earn an extra $1,000 this month?” Then just start writing. When you run out of ideas, write “I’m stuck,” but don’t stop thinking! When you keep throwing out ideas, you never know what brilliant concepts or solutions you might come up with.

Now that we’ve covered Einstein – what’s Oprah’s take on releasing your inner genius? Ask for help! Oprah doesn’t credit herself for her monumental success. She credits the people who helped her along the way. Why? Because she believes that the key to success is having someone show you the way.

Oprah’s right, according to John D. Krumboltz, coauthor of Luck is No Accident. Since other people have had experiences you haven’t, they may be in a position to help you make wiser decisions, introduce you to someone who can help, or simply push your thoughts in a different direction. So, don’t be afraid to ask for help when you can’t figure something out. It could be the smartest thing you ever did!

The Spiritual Side Of LOST?

2008-01-08T08:21:00.000-05:00

With millions of LOST fans anticipating Season Four's unveiling on ABC Jan. 31, authors John Ankerberg and Dillon Burroughs believe many Christians can benefit from a closer investigation of the show, as outlined in their new book What Can Be Found in LOST?

2008-01-08T06:02:00.000-05:00

What’s the world’s record for the fastest arrest of a bank robber? This has got to be the winner. Adam Grennan passed a note to a Boston bank teller, demanding money – meanwhile, directly behind him a uniformed police officer was watching and pulled his weapon to arrest him. Now that’s fast.

According to a new study, the average American woman could lose up to 4.1 pounds in a year by not purchasing and then consuming impulse items, such as chocolate candies, chips, and soda, from the checkout line. Men could lose an average of 3.1 pounds doing the same thing.

An unrelated study claims that “Moms-to-be” who want to have boy babies can help their chances by eating more burgers.

Chinese officials are working around the clock to protect the two last known Yangtze soft-shell turtles in the world. Their small pool has been encased with bulletproof glass, a surveillance camera monitors their movements, and no Chinese-made toys are allowed within 500 yards of them at any time.

2008-01-04T18:50:00.000-05:00

WEEKEND EDITION

I CAN'T GET NO - A recent Gallup Poll finds the American public generally content with their own lives. Most Americans say they are generally happy, with a slim majority saying they are "very happy." More than 8 in 10 Americans say they are satisfied with their personal lives at this time, including a solid majority who say they are "very satisfied." Republicans, married adults, those residing in higher income households, parents of young children, and those attending church weekly are most likely to say they are satisfied and happy. ***Mick Jagger is said to be stunned by the news.

Can a screwdriver save a man’s life?
The family of a man in Hilo, Hawaii, is suing a doctor for implanting a screwdriver into his neck. During the surgery, Dr. Robert Ricketson asked the nurse to pass him a titanium rod for insertion, and she told him they were out. He allegedly felt he couldn't keep the man under anesthetic with an unstable neck any longer, so he cut the shaft off a screwdriver on the instrument table and used that. The nurse claimed she was sent out of the room and told to keep quiet. The man gave Local News 6 an X-ray to prove he has a screwdriver in his neck.
***Papers have already been filed to change the man’s name……To Phillip.

GOOD INTENTIONS - Angela Thomas thought she was saving her 9-year-old daughter from some grief over a lost pet. She found her daughter Danielle's pet hamster dead in its cage one day and did what many parents have done -- she buried it and proceeded to buy a new one without telling her daughter. Then that hamster died. After burying hamster number two, Angela spoke with a vet who told her that hamsters hibernate. If they decided to get hamster number 3, she's been told to check its vital signs before assuming the hamster is dead. ***Mental note….NO long naps at the Thomas house.

2008-01-04T08:24:00.001-05:00

Scientists say the Earth is becoming more like Saturn. In a report in the Weekly World News, some astronomers say the earth is developing rings just like the planet Saturn. the discovery has both astronomers and theologians scratching their heads. Some astrophysicists believe the rings may be a bi-product of global warming. Some religious experts say the ring is probably a sign of the impending second coming of Christ. ***In reality its just a new ad campaign by Target.

PETA has declared war on the Olsen twins because of the fur they've been seen wearing. They call them Hairy-Kate and Trashley. ***PETA gets classier everyday.

What is Britain’s most ridiculous law? How about a ban on dying in Parliament? The ban was voted the most absurd, narrowly beating out law making it an act of treason to place a postage stamp bearing the monarch's head upside down on an envelope.

Hospital, Airport, or Casino?

2008-01-03T08:24:00.000-05:00

Click the headline for the full story referenced in JoeNEWS.

Still Looking for D.B. Cooper?

2008-01-03T08:20:00.000-05:00

HOW TO KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

2008-01-03T07:58:00.000-05:00

New Year's resolutions are easier to make than to keep -- but you can increase your chances of success by following these tips from experts.

-Limit the number of resolutions. One is best. Never choose more than three.
-Be specific. Vague goals are impossible to achieve.
-Choose an obtainable goal. Resolving to look like a fashion model isn't realistic for most people, but a goal of exercising daily is quite possible to achieve.
-Don't choose a resolution that you've been unsuccessful at year after year. You're likely to fail.
-Ask friends and family members to help you with your resolution so you have someone to be accountable to.
-If you fail to keep your resolution, dust yourself off and start all over again.

2008-01-03T06:49:00.000-05:00

A man in Weirton, WV, decided to make some easy money and printed up $10,000 in counterfeit bills. Most expert counterfeiters try to pass fake bills at several different locations to avoid suspicion -- but this was definitely not an expert counterfeiter. He bagged the freshly-printed bills into a paper sack, went to his local bank, and tried to deposit the funny money into his personal account. The teller was a bit suspicious -- and became especially suspicious when she noticed that all the bills had the exact same serial number. The cops were called, and the counterfeiter was arrested.

A new study says you are more likely to survive a heart attack at an airport or a casino than at a hospital. Waiting too long to use a defibrillator seems to be the reason.

Motorist filled car with petrol through window Hungarian police are hunting an early morning driver who poured 150 litres of petrol through the back window of his car. He then staggered back into the driver's seat and drove off with petrol dripping on the floor at the petrol station at Nyiregyhaza. Police suspect the confused motorist was either very tired or very drunk.

Get Ready!!!

2008-01-02T15:21:00.000-05:00

Starting Thursday morning it's back!!! JoeNEWS!!! I know you can hardly contain yourself. It seems like it has been forever since I was here early enough to crash the WAKW morning show party.

Now that the year end rush to use up any remaining vacation time is over, we can finally get back to normal.

Join Rob and Barb tomorrow morning 5:30-10am, and I'll stick my head in with JoeNEWS when Rob's not looking. Get JoeNEWS right here anytime...at JustJoeRadio.net .

2007-12-18T09:44:00.001-05:00

The city of Boston is preparing a plan to allow its police cars to carry up to three advertising signs, each roughly twice the size of a bumper sticker. The city is having financial trouble and needs some revenue. ***No word yet if Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts has signed on.

NASA says they're on target for a return to the moon in the year 2020.

The putting up of a nativity scene at Green Bay's City Hall has prompted a tongue-in-cheek request from a man for permission to display a Festivus pole on the property as well. The request to put up an undecorated six-foot aluminum pole was intended to showcase how deciding what religions to include in the display can turn to the absurd.
**FYI: The Festivus isn’t just a holiday made up for Seinfeld. It was created by author Daniel O'Keefe during the 1970s and is celebrated by some both in earnest and jest on Dec. 23.

Carrie Underwood and Miley Cyrus will perform live on Dick Clark's "New Years' Rockin' Eve" on ABC.

Coca-cola likes to call themselves "the real thing!" But in Detroit, Cecil Donald St. Pierre was arrested for selling not the real thing to area restaurants. Cecil allegedly used a generic syrup for use in fountain drink dispensers, but labeled it as Coke. This guy could get ten years for fake Coke!

2007-12-17T07:18:00.000-05:00

Two Swiss banks have decided to bar Santa Claus and his helpers from entering their branches for fear they will turn out to be robbers in festive disguise, being sure not to discriminate they’ve barred his elves too.

A recent survey says that if you want a raise, the best way to get one is to ask for more work. 82 percent of the managers surveyed say that's the best way to be considered for a raise.

Father Marco Damanti of Sicily was so offended by a Red Bull ad that his complaints about it got it removed from Italian TV. Damanti said the ad was blasphemous. It depicted the Nativity, only instead of Three Wise Men bringing gifts to the Baby Jesus, there was a fourth Wise Man who brought Him a can of Red Bull. ***I think when you give a baby Red Bull, you've lost your claim on the title of "Wise Man."

Top 5 Gifts For The Average Joe

2007-12-04T09:19:00.000-05:00

Note that the average Joe doesn't want or need anything expensive. He is a simple man with simple needs. Some claim he is extremely difficult to buy for. This couldn't be farther from the truth...You just don't know what the average Joe wants. Below you'll find the top 5 gifts for the average Joe, and they are all under $20.

5 - Work Gloves - No guy can have too many work gloves. Whether they are a part of his work attire or just an occational weekend occurence...you can't go wrong with a good pair of work gloves. Especially the washable kind. I had a pair, but like all occupational hand ware they disappeared a long time ago.

4 - Flash light - Like work gloves you can never have too many. Inevitably someone (wife or kids) will rob the batteries from any flashlight they know of. The trick is to have flashlights that only you know about stashed throughout the house, garage, and car. I love my MagLite. Although the jury is still out on the L.E.D. bulb.

3 - Tools - Power tools have become the cliche gift for guys, whether its Christmas, birthday, or Father's Day. Power tools are great, but frankly they can be a bit pricey. Why not just plan old tools? In my house, the hunt for screw drivers, pliers, and vice grips seems to take longer than the job in which they are needed. Play the numbers game. The more of these items there are, the easier it should be to find one when you need it...right? Craftsmen has all those new fangled fancy hand tools now. I bet you can find atleast one he didn't already buy.

2 - White Castle gift card - Normally I would call a gift card a bit of a cop out, but what better way to remind him of your thoughtfullness than with a gift that will remind him all day and maybe all night long. Guys love White Castle, face it, but with a gift card there is a good chance he'll go by himself and then you won't have to face the after effect.

1 - Duct tape - It sounds like a crummy gift but did you really think I'd leave it off my list? Duct tape is esential to the fabric of his manliness. It may not get a huge bang for the buck type reaction on Christmas morning but when the time comes, he'll be eternally thankful.

Family Meeting

2007-12-04T07:02:00.000-05:00

It's been a while since I posted anything other than JoeNEWS. While it seems like alot has happened it doesn't seem like there is much to share...

- Samantha is bummed that she has to get glasses, but is excited because for the second time in three years she has made the Kentucky All-State Chorus.
- Jessica can spell her name and it is so cute, "J-E-S-S-I-with a dot-C-A."
- Lisa and I are trying to get ready for Christmas and keep things in perspective. When did Christmas become so much work?

I'm sure you know what I mean. I can't be the only one. Can I?

2007-12-04T06:26:00.001-05:00

Last Thursday somewhere on the planet, the 3.3 billionth cell phone account was opened, meaning that now 50% of the Earth's population now has a cell phone.

Two decades after a guy in Minnesota lost a bracelet, he noticed something shiny in a chicken gizzard he was cutting up, and there it was!

In Sweden, they're building a Moose Museum, with a building in the shape of a giant wooden moose.

Good Housekeeping reports 76% of toy recalls are due to design flaws rather than problems like lead paint. ***The most common flaw is the label “Made in China.”

Police in Annapolis, Md., are looking for a few ugly women. The band of thieves are "very unattractive and obviously male," a police detective says. The men wear tight skirts and high heels, and the distraction they cause allows accomplices to steal money, credit cards and checks from stores. "They might look kind of silly when they dress up, but they're really good at what they do,"

2007-12-03T06:59:00.000-05:00

Donnie Register has a new reason to be thankful he's married — police say his wedding band deflected a bullet and probably saved his life. Two men walked into his Antique Market and asked to see a coin collection. That’s when one of them pulled a gun and demanded money. A shot was fired as Register threw up his left hand, and his wedding ring deflected the bullet.

Drugs and jury duty don’t mix – but that’s not a good reason to try and get out of serving on a jury! A man made a mockery of the justice system when he tried to get removed from a jury pool in a death penalty case by claiming he is a heroin addict and a killer. Benjamin Ratliffe, of Columbus, Ohio, was charged with contempt of court and obstruction of justice and ordered to spend a night in jail. Ratliffe filled out a questionnaire form for potential jurors and professed to having a "bad jonesin' for heroin." When asked if he had ever fired a weapon, he wrote, "Yes. I killed someone with it, of course."

People convicted of driving under the influence in Ireland will soon be punished by having their noses painted red for the duration of their sentence or probation. Lawmakers say the red noses send a message that drinking and driving will not be tolerated.

2007-11-30T07:24:00.000-05:00

So do you wanna live longer? Raise worms! A new study out of Mobile, Alabama reveals that people who raise and sell earthworms live 9.2 years longer than the average person. ***Yeah, but that’s nine more years of raising worms.

This should make you feel old. The Atari video game “Pong” turned 35 yesterday.

A terrible moment of Duh in Boca Raton, Florida. It was supposed to be a joyous birthday celebration but it turned frantic for the mother who realized she forgot the birthday boy at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant. Michael Emmanuel Jr. had been celebrating his 6th birthday with a group of friends and family when he was found wandering around the restaurant unattended at about 10 p.m. The employees told authorities Michael knew his name and age but not his telephone number or his mother's name. The mom allegedly left the restaurant with the group around 8 p.m. not realizing her son was not with her and it wasn't until THE NEXT DAY, after a sleep over party at her home, that she realized he was gone.

Could ditzy-blondeness be contagious? Researchers gave men general knowledge tests after showing them pictures of women and found that men performed worse after they were shown pictures of blonde women. They concluded that the men were not distracted by the blondes’ beauty, but subconsciously copying the stereotype of the ditzy blonde.

2007-11-29T07:10:00.000-05:00

It’s too bad not all kidnappers are this wimpy. In Houston, kidnappers broke into a home, duct-taped the victim, and were ready to take her away, but apparently got scared at the last minute and chickened out. So they merely left the woman and a note at the scene demanding $2,000 and promising to come back later to pick it up. They didn't.

A study conducted at the University of Dusseldorf in Germany has concluded that young women are better able to cope with stress than young men. ***That’s because the main cause of stress in young men IS young women.

If you miss a deadline and you need a really good excuse, the experts say there's nothing more reliable than that old standby: "My grandmother died." A survey of 175 undergrads and 106 instructors at Southern Illinois University shows that the grandma routine was the excuse most often used by students for late papers and missed exams. More importantly, perhaps, it was also the excuse most often accepted by professors. One of the instructors responding to the survey said, "In my 27 years, I have never had a dead grandfather - only grandmothers."

A Chicago mail carrier was shot in the thigh for delivering the mail too late. He will be okay according to doctors. ***And I’m sure he'll deliver it a lot faster on one leg.

2007-11-28T06:45:00.000-05:00

Stanford researchers report that people who wear pedometers walk 2,000 more steps per day than people who don't wear pedometers. ***Really? And how do they know that?

A Michigan man says he shot a neighbor's cow after mistaking it for a coyote. ***Exactly how big ARE the coyotes in Michigan?

Madonna says no Christmas at her house this year. As a devout follower of Kabbalah, she says she can't allow her kids to celebrate the Christian holiday. *** But it’s still okay to be named “Madonna.”

A bank in South Carolina had a million reasons not to open an account for man earlier this week. Alexander Smith attempted to open an account with a fake $1 million bill! The employee refused to open the account and called police while the man started to curse at bank workers. And in case you didn’t know, the federal government has never printed a million-dollar bill.

It sounds like a joke, but it’s true: the National Toy Hall of Fame inducted the cardboard box, saying that in many cases, kids enjoy playing with the box more than the toy that came in it.

2007-11-27T06:55:00.000-05:00

In Tea, South Dakota, Levi Johnson says he is the new world-record holder for swallowing Tabasco sauce. Our man guzzled down 5.5 ounces of the hot sauce, or nearly 3 bottles, in 30 seconds at a sports bar. The Guinness Book of World Records lists the previous record at 5.07 ounces and Levi's feat must be verified by Guinness publishers before it is considered official.

The Munchkins from "The Wizard of Oz" got their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last week.

Scott Schmitz of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin stole 5,619 quarters from a Buggy Bath Car Wash. In the week following the burglary, Schmitz, who didn't have a job, bought a car using only quarters. An easy tip off to police that they were not dealing with a genius.

2007-11-26T06:53:00.000-05:00

A father and son in southern Sweden have been fined for repeatedly throwing eggs at another family's home. The 18-year-old high school senior told his dad that he was having trouble with another boy in school. The 42-year-old father, thinking back on his glory days of youth, suggested the drive over to the boy's house and egg his car -- which they did-- several times -- for several months -- until finally being caught by police.

If you’re still working on those Thanksgiving leftovers, it may be time to move on…
It's estimated that last year over 300,000 people got sick from eating bad Thanksgiving leftovers. ***It totally ruined their Easter.

Ladies, you'd better think twice before sending your man to the grocery store Why? Men tend to be overwhelmed by the number of choices. New research shows that men don't grocery shop as efficiently as women, and they rarely ask for help if they can't find something. It may not be their fault though, grocery stores are designed for women and the way women shop. The top three problems men face in a grocery store are 1) They have difficulty finding things. 2) If something that is on the list isn't available, they aren't adept at finding a substitute so they come home empty-handed. 3) They hesitate to ask for help. ***But there is a simple solution. Don’t ask a man to grocery shopping. Please!

2007-11-21T06:46:00.000-05:00

In took 18 months of investigation for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to finally conclude that the Texas state government requires too many reports-- a total of more than 1,600 in all. They found that about a fourth of the reports were either duplicates of other reports or that the agency receiving them didn't even exist any longer. Nevertheless, these reports are dutifully prepared year after year even though it is evident that they go unread. To reveal their findings, the commission itself issued a 668-page report.

A Kentucky man put on a ski mask and held up an ice cream store armed with a stapler. Amazingly, it worked as the clerks handed over $175 and he made his getaway. However, his fortune didn't last long as witnesses pointed cops in his direction and they found him at his house with the money, a stapler and a ski mask.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and Americans will consume more than 700 million pounds of turkey in one day.

"Jingle Bells," the popular Christmas song, was actually written for Thanksgiving. The song was composed in 1857, by James Pierpont, and was originally called "One Horse Open Sleigh."

You've heard the term "snail mail"... well it seems that snails really DO like mail... the TASTE of it! Much to the dismay of the post office, snails have become hooked on the taste of saliva and glue on envelopes. Postal staff were finding up to 30 snails at a time in the bottom of boxes in some locations. According to a post office spokesperson, "They were leaving their slime everywhere, getting into the letters, licking the paste."

2007-11-20T06:39:00.001-05:00

In South Africa, designers have unveiled the “e.Volution” - a prototype car that runs on air, and will be able to travel up to 120 miles for only 30 US cents. *** “e.Volution” was actually their second choice for a name, but they thought they’d have marketing problems if they used the name, “bag of wind."

Nearly 70 percent questioned in an AP-Ipsos poll said people are ruder than they were 20 or 30 years ago. The trend was noticed in large and small places alike, although more urban people reported bad manners (74%) than people in rural areas (67%).

Just what you want to hear heading into Thanksgiving…Woman's Day.com found 66% of us worry about holiday weight gain.

Why bribe a police officer if there’s no need to? Malaysia's Aw Cheng Fatt was recently pulled over by police. Fearing he had a little too much to drink, he tried to bribe the officer $15 not to do a breathalyzer test. The cop didn't bite on it and arrested Fatt on corruption charges and he was later fined $300. Fatt also had to do the breathalyzer test, which showed that he WAS within the legal limit to drive!

2007-11-19T06:36:00.000-05:00

A rogue cell phone is not accepting calls, but it sure likes to dial 911 operators in eastern Iowa. Operators say they’ve received about 400 calls from the same cell phone last week and that no one seems to be on the other line. Officials can't locate the phone but have figured out that it is an old line not currently associated with a cell phone provider. Such phones, once charged up, can still place 911 calls under Federal Communications Commission rules set in 1994. The cell phone can't receive calls, and emergency workers haven't been able to track the owner through service records, either.

Anyone can donate money to their favorite college. John McIntire turned over something of greater personal value: his collection of 700 Hawaiian shirts, to the Memphis College of Art.
McIntire, 72, wears Hawaiian shirts most days, putting a T-shirt underneath when it's cold and adding a coat when necessary. "The shirts are just like him,"...fun, relaxing, easygoing, and non-threatening." The college plans to display the shirts for a sale to benefit a scholarship in McIntire's name.

Heathcliff the cat somehow hitched a nearly 800-mile ride from New Jersey to Georgia — The orange and white shorthair was reported missing Oct. 24 from Sicklerville, N.J. The animal was identified Nov. 9 at an animal shelter in Georgia. Animal control officers, scanned Heathcliff for a microchip, and that led to information that the kitty was reported missing, in New Jersey. A volunteer rescue group shuttled the cat back to its owner Wednesday. Last week, a woman provided what might be the answer to how the cat ended up in the Atlanta suburb. The woman called and said she helped her son move out of a New Jersey apartment shortly before the cat turned up in Georgia.

2007-11-14T06:46:00.000-05:00

McDonald's? The burger joint? Stampede! Eight cows escaped from a trailer when the rear gate opened as the driver pulled into a McDonald's. It took about two hours to round them up Monday. A police spokesman said: "They didn't like their future." The roundup was called "Operation Hamburger Helper."

A drunken student recently spent the night in a tree and had to be rescued by British firefighters. The student had climbed 100 feet up a pine tree, without his shoes on, and then fell asleep. Eight firefighters needed 90 minutes and ropes and pulleys to get him down from his precarious perch. As one fire official put it, "Alcohol and climbing trees don't really mix."

The L.A. city council has rejected a proposal to repaint the Hollywood sign red, white and blue. ***Because in patriotism is only cool when it’s beneficial for the box office.

A hungry criminal broke into a bakery and found some cakes that were to his liking. So much to his liking in fact that he ate 42 of them. Maybe he should have stopped at 41 because he suffered such severe indigestion that he couldn't even move. Security guards heard moaning coming from the kitchen and called the cops.

2007-11-13T06:05:00.000-05:00

In Palm Bay, Florida, on Saturday, November 10th at 8:30 PM, a deliveryman was preparing to drop off two pizzas when two masked men approached, according to police. They got away with the pizzas, but no cash. They went through the trouble of putting masks on, but didn't bother trying for cash?

Have you ever driven over a road that has grooves in it, such that you get a (usually nasty) resonance and vibration? That's often done to make sure you don't drive off the edge of an offramp or some other similar "hazard." Well, a Japanese scientist got the "bright idea" of cutting the grooves in such a way as to produce a kind of music.There are three places in Japan that have Melody Roads complete with a musical note painted on it.

A man trying to loosen a stubborn lug nut blasted the wheel with a 12-gauge shotgun, injuring himself badly in both legs, sheriff’s deputies said. The 66-year-old man had been repairing a Lincoln Continental for two weeks at his home northwest of Southworth, about 10 miles southwest of Seattle, and had gotten all but one of the lug nuts off the right rear wheel by Saturday afternoon, Kitsap County Deputy Scott Wilson said. “He’s bound and determined to get that lug nut off,” Wilson said. From about arm’s length, the man fired the shotgun at the wheel and was “peppered” in both legs with buckshot and debris, with some injuries as high as his chin, according to a sheriff’s office report. “Nobody else was there and he wasn’t intoxicated,” Wilson said.

2007-11-12T07:12:00.000-05:00

Police in New Jersey say a black bear is suspected of stealing a car and taking it for a spin. When officers found the car the passenger window had been broken and the door panels were damaged. How’d they know it was a bear? Because of all the bear hair inside. "Apparently, the bear had also accidentally released the emergency brake and allowed the vehicle to roll away 40 or 50 feet away from the owner's house." Police say the bear was probably attracted by sweets left inside the car.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev will have lunch on Saturday with a US couple who paid 160,000 dollars at a charity auction. "We'll have cabbage, herring and vodka," Gorbachev was quoted as saying on Friday. The auction raised four million dollars for two children's cancer hospitals in Russia.

New parents who don't have enough to obsess over can now give an I.Q. test to babies as young as six months. Fisher-Price paid an expert to create the 10-question test. It determines a baby's intellectual development by its reactions to such things as being fed, dropping a teddy bear, playing "This Little Piggy," enjoying nursery rhymes, playing with toy phones, performing "pat-a-cake," hearing its name and waving goodbye. ***Sounds like the interview process here.

Thanks for a great night...

2007-11-12T06:55:00.000-05:00

Last night, "The Mission" held an event called Stepping Forward to try to raise support for a new project they are working on. They were nice enough to let me host the festivities.

Over the past couple of years they have taken their message and their music to places many "Christian" bands don't go and they have gotten great response. These guys really have their heads on straight. Lead singer, Chris Runnels said it best..."we're not trying to get famous, get a record deal, or get rich....we're just taking message of hope to people that need it."

The Mission has an opportunity to record a professional sounding cd for about half of what it would normally cost. If you've got a venue or an event coming up and are interested in a very good band let me know and I hook you up with The Mission. They're are countless ways you can help...just let us know you're willing. Email me and I'll get you in touch with the right person.

Thanks to everyone that came out and supported the band...and thanks to loyal listener Paula at the Wingate Inn who helped organize and cater the event.

2007-11-09T07:26:00.000-05:00

Japan has a new weapon to scare people into saving for their retirement -- an exploding piggy bank. The "Savings Bomb," which goes on sale next week, "explodes" and scatters coins if users fail to save for a period of time. The battery-powered toy -- designed as a cartoon-style, ball-shaped black bomb with a skull and crossbones logo -- lights up, makes a noise, shakes violently and scatters coins if it is not topped up for a long time.

This week is DEAR SANTA LETTER WEEK. ***Better get yours in early.

New York City is considering a ban on plastic bags at stores. ***Will that be paper or….paper?
Got milk? It turns out that vitamin D may act as pheromones to attract the opposite sex. At least it works in Iberian rock lizards. *** Perfect for anyone wanting to ask an Iberian rock lizard to dinner.

One of Britain's strongest men failed in an attempt to set a world record – by pulling a double decker bus with his ears. "He's very disappointed, but that's the nature of record-breaking," a spokesperson for Guinness said. I guess he’ll have to be content with his other records, including one for pulling a bus with his hair.

2007-11-08T08:41:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a cheap computer, Wal-Mart is the place to go again this Christmas. They're now taking orders for a computer called the "Green gPC." It's made by a company in Taiwan, costs $199 and runs the Linux operating system. It'll be available in about 600 stores and online. If you want it with Windows, add about $100. Either way, it comes with a keyboard, mouse, and speakers, but no monitor.

STRANGE LAW: Many people use their garage as a catch-all storage facility. In fact, many people don't even park their vehicles in their garage. However, in Long Beach, California it is against the law to have any item other than a car in your garage.

Everyone knows the pecking order in a family has everything to do with age. The oldest sibling thinks they rule the roost. But what if you get cheated out of the title because of Daylight Saving Time? Peter Cirioli was dubbed "Baby A" when he arrived early Sunday morning at 1:32 a.m. Thirty-four minutes later, Peter's twin sister, Allison, known as "Baby B," made her entrance into the world.Because of Daylight Saving Time, Allison's time of birth was 1:06 a.m., which makes her 26 minutes older than her brother even though he was born first.

Coming Up...

2007-11-07T15:18:00.000-05:00

Thursday, I'll be in for Kelly, from 10-2pm. Calls or emails are encouraged...513-542-WAKW.

Sunday night, November 11th join me for a night with The Mission.

2007-11-07T07:05:00.000-05:00

35% of Self readers admitted they dislike having house guests. ***Go figure people reading a magazine named Self wouldn’t want to share.

A Texas billionaire named Richard Hart Graives says he’s setting out to build a new version of the Titanic. The main difference? The Titanic II will be a space ship. Graives claims his supership will be launched in the year 2012 on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s maiden voyage. He says the ship will transport 25-hundred passengers to Mars. A first class cabin will cost a whopping 500-thousand dollars... and believe it or not, the first voyage is already almost sold out.

Police arrested a 19-year-old in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, for attempted theft at a glue factory. The suspect did not resist. He had knocked over two large cans and glued himself to the factory floor.

Dunkin' Donuts Expanding...

2007-11-05T11:33:00.000-05:00

...As will your waistline. So who does make the best donuts in the tri-state? Comment below so everyone knows who makes the best.

2007-11-05T06:27:00.000-05:00

HALLOWEEN PROM NIGHT DRESS - Marlene Wyatt went to a second-hand store in Arkansas to buy a Halloween costume last week. What she found, wasn’t a costume – but the very prom dress she herself made 33 years ago. She says when she spotted the dress her thoughts went from "This material looks familiar" to "Surely not" and finally "That's my dress!" Wyatt sewed the white double-knit polyester dress when she was in high school. The store's owner opened her shop about a month ago. She doesn't remember where she got the dress, which she had labeled "Way Retro" in her inventory.

A recent study shows that if you want to avoid skin cancer, adding pizza more often to your diet might help! German scientists say that pizza's unique mix of ingredients is the perfect combination to keep out the harmful UV rays of the sun.

SPRINGFIELD, Ore.—A number of gnomes and other creatures have taken sanctuary at the Springfield police station. As part of a prank, somebody stole 75 lawn ornaments from around town and placed them meticulously on and around the lawn of one house on Oct. 17, police said. Among the figurines are plastic and porcelain geese, deer, frogs are gnomes. Police took them back to the station to help find the rightful owners. "We need to get them out of here," Capt. Richard Harrison said. "Every time I leave my office they're sitting in my chair, working on my computer. I can't seem to get rid of the darn things." The figurines will be put out for public viewing on Tuesday. "If they come here and they can identify it we're more than happy to let the gnome go home," Harrison said. Figurines that aren't claimed will be sold at auction.

2007-10-26T11:29:00.000-04:00

As many as 10 vehicles drove around barriers and onto freshly poured concrete during rush hour. Two got stuck. Several drivers quickly realized their mistake and were able to get back onto pavement. But a 2004 Lexus and a 2004 Mercury Marquis continued forward, became stuck and had to be towed. The company that poured the concrete estimates it will cost $20,000 to replace it.

Those things that go bump in the night? About one-third of people believe they could be ghosts. And nearly one out of four, 23 percent, say they've actually seen a ghost or felt its presence, finds a pre-Halloween poll by The AP.

A Johns Hopkins study found that rubbing broccoli juice on your skin is a much more effective way to prevent sunburn than any commercial sunscreen. **Plus, you know that everyone wants to smell like broccoli.

A study by MSN.com found that having a wife for 50 years costs the average man $590,400 in restaurant dinners, vacations and gifts. ***But as any married man who knows his wife is listening, would say... it's worth it.

2007-10-25T06:36:00.000-04:00

An off-Broadway producer has opened five unusual Halloween haunted houses around New York City, all called "Nightmare: Face Your Fear." Unlike the standard gore-and-ghouls, his houses are based on the 13 most common anxieties and phobias. So the rooms are built around such fears as drowning, clowns, rats or cockroaches, heights and enclosed places.

George Lucas is said to be working on a "Star Wars" TV series that has nothing to do with Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader. ***Then what’s the point?

As we head into the holiday season, it’s interesting to see the results of a new survey which found that over half of Americans admit to "re-gifting" -- passing on gifts you've received to someone else.

A robber is in jail after falling asleep during a car-jacking and being driven to the police station by his kidnapped victim. Emanuele Lot robbed the motorist and then his victim to drive him at gunpoint to his hometown. Lot fell asleep during the journey and his victim drove to the local police headquarters instead. He was woken up by a police officer and is now in jail.

2007-10-14T18:27:00.001-04:00

HEADS UP -
Teens in Bulgaria have come up with a creative way of getting out of school, head lice. Students have created a head lice plague by infecting each other with the lice on purpose. Infected students are required to stay home from school for three days.

HAUNTED WHITE HOUSE -
First-daughter, Jena Bush says her room at the White House is haunted. The room once occupied by Chelsea Clinton, John F. Kennedy Jr. and both Lynda and Luci Johnson. "I'm not kidding. I have heard ghosts, I really have -- ghosts singing opera."

ARE YOU INCOMPETENT?
According to a recent study, if you're incompetent, you'd be the last person to know it! A psychologist who has studied incompetent people says they are the least likely to realize how useless they are. He reckons the skills needed for competence are the same ones needed to recognize it.

TURTLE CROSSING -
You've heard of pedestrian crossings, deer crossings, and even cattle crossings... but now in Nebraska you might see a sign for a turtle crossing! Officials have put up chain link fences to help herd the protected turtles under the highway. The species known as Blanding's turtles can live up to 70 years. *** What would their life expectancy be if they could use the crosswalk?

2007-10-14T18:15:00.000-04:00

SNORING MAKES YOU STUPID?
Snoring can not only be annoying; it might actually make you less intelligent. A German clinic, explaining how snoring can be stopped through minor surgery, cited a US study which showed that in addition to being an irritating habit, snoring kills brain cells

EDUCATIONAL OOPS
It was supposed to the beginning of their senior year in high school, but when they came back three students were told they could no longer attend the school. Not because of bad behavior or poor grades. It’s because they already graduated. The problem was that no one at the school bothered to tell the three students that they actually had enough credits to graduate after their junior year!

YOU SMELL WONDERFUL TONIGHT
Hey, husbands… want to drive your wife crazy? Then you might want to buy your cologne in the baking aisle rather than the fragrance department. You don't need bushels of money and stunning good looks to make your wife crazy for you. All you need to do is splash on a little vanilla. A report in Perfume Collection magazine says vanilla is far more effective than the scents commonly used in men's cologne like citrus or musk. ***Who doesn’t want to smell like cookies all day?