Radio Recap (Thursday 04/30/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
Where did Abraham live before God told him to move to Canaan? ?
A. Land of Ur
B. Land of Egypt
C. Land of Ai
D. Land of Oz




In The News:

- National Honesty Day challenges us to be truthful in all we do.

We know the different kinds of lies. We’ve spared someone’s feelings or fudged the truth just a little or maybe told an all-out whopper. Unless we walked on water, we’ve all told a lie or two.

- FB usage is up. The coronavirus pandemic has been very good for Facebook use. The company saw a surge in user growth, with an average of more than 1.73 billion daily active users in March. That’s up from 1.66 billion in the previous quarter.

- Wet Sponge hit world record. Apparently everything is a possible world record. Like being hit in the face with wet sponges. An Idaho man took 43 to the face to break a Guinness World Record. David Rush, who has broken more than 100 Guinness records to promote STEM education, went into the middle of his Boise street with Jonathan Hannon to attempt the unusual record. Hannon threw 54 wet sponges in the allotted 30-second time period, 43 of which successfully collided with Rush’s face. The 43 hits were enough to break the previous record of 36 in the category of most wet sponges thrown in 30 seconds (team of two).

- Apple Face ID fix. Face ID was a great idea — until large parts of the world were forced to wear face masks. Apple is apparently on it. Users are reporting a subtle new feature in the latest test version of its iPhone operating system (iOS 13.5) that will make it easier to unlock your iPhone without having to take off your protective face mask... Videos shared on Twitter show that Apple devices with Face ID will jump to the backup passcode-entry screen if it detects a mask. That’s not only helpful if you’re unlocking your phone dozens of times a day, but it’s also helping to keep people safe by not forcing users to take off their masks and potentially exposing themselves to the virus.

- National Bugs Bunny Day on April 30th commemorates the date the famous bunny first appeared in a short film in 1938. 1938: Bugs Bunny first appeared on screen in the cartoon Porky’s Hare Hunt, directed by “Bugs” Hardaway for Warner Bros.

- 4-sec workout. A new study shows four seconds of high-intensity exertion repeated periodically throughout the day might counteract some of the unhealthy metabolic consequences of sitting for hours. The study relied on a specialized type of stationary bicycle that few of us will have available at home, but it suggest that even a few minutes — or seconds — of exercise each day could help substantially to bolster our health.

- Disney singalong Vol 2. After the first edition of The Disney Family Singalong attracted 10.30 million viewers, ABC has picked up a second edition for Mother’s Day, May 10 with Ryan Seacrest returning as host.

- On this day in 1952: The first toy was advertised on television: Mr. Potato Head.

- National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30th raises awareness for thousands of pets that are waiting for (and needing) adoption from the shelters.

- US Marriage rate plunged. The US marriage rate fell to its lowest level on record in 2018, federal stats released Wednesday show. New figures from the National Center for Health Statistics reveal the nationwide marriage rate fell 6 percent from 2017 to 2018. It’s the lowest rate since the US government started tracking such data in 1867… Researchers say there’s no clear reason for the decline and it’s expected the ongoing coronavirus pandemic to further drive down the number of Americans getting hitched.

- On This day in 1789: On the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York City, George Washington took the oath of office to become the first elected President of the United States.

- Old Mill cranking flour. The Sturminster Newton Mill building in Dorset, England, dates back to the 17-hundreds. The mill’s machinery was restored in the late 1990s so that it could be run as a museum. Pete Loosmore, grandson of a former miller there, says he and a colleague usually run the mill “about two days each month” to produce flour for tourists. But now, with the government urging people to stay home, baking has become more popular and stores have run out of flour. So the old mill has gone back to work, grinding through as much grain in two or three weeks as it would normally use all season.


- National Hairstylist Appreciation Day honors hairstylists everywhere who make artful hairstyles possible. A talented hairstylist will not only make you look good but also make you feel good. This day also celebrates the uniqueness of all styles of hair.



Fun Fact:
In a survey, Americans revealed that their favorite smell was banana. #funfact



Matt's Musing:
It's not hard to meet expenses... they're everywhere... #musing




Matt's Pick Song:
“It means just what it says” by greater vision




Bible Trivia Answer:
A. Land of Ur (Genesis 11:27-32)

Radio Recap (Wednesday 04/29/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
In the parable of the good Samaritan, Who does Jesus want people to love as themselves?
A. Their Brother
B. Their Enemy
C. Their Best Friend
D. Their Neighbor



In The News:

- National Zipper Day commemorates April 29, 1913, when the patent for the modern zipper was issued. The day celebrates something that we often do not think about and may automatically take for granted. Gideon Sundbach of Hoboken, New Jersey, received a patent for the zipper.

- Youtube fact check. Almost two months after the first known COVID-19 death in the U.S. and YouTube is finally launching fact-check information panels for users searching for specific debunked topics. YouTube is introducing the new feature as a number of hoaxes related to COVID-19 continue to circulate on the service and elsewhere online.

- Teaching babies to swim. Teaching babies to swim might settle their fear of water and provide good exercise, but it could have other benefits as well. Researchers from Norway and the United Kingdom found that children who had taken baby swimming classes did better on tests involving gripping and reaching as well as balance, compared to children who had no experience swimming as babies.

- Drain Addict. If you’ve run out of shows to watch on Netflix, switch over to YouTube for the Drain Addict. The YouTube channel devoted exclusively to an Australian plumber’s adventures unclogging drains. Drain Addict has over 400 videos on the channel. … If you’re into weirdly gross YouTube channels there’s the classic Dr. Pimple Popper.

- National Shrimp Scampi Day on April 29th gives us a tasty way to celebrate. On this day, we honor the delicious dish of shrimp cooked with butter, garlic, lemon juice, and white wine.

- Hug and Cuddle. Go ahead, give your partner a hug or cuddle while you catch some Netflix. According to recently published research (Binghamton University) it just might build a stronger relationship. … The study looked at the effects of non-sexual intimate touch — for example, hugging, holding hands or cuddling on the couch, rather than actions intended to lead to sex. Overall, the study shows an association between non-sexual physical affection and solid marriages.

- TSA finds fewer guns. The good news is, due to very low flight traffic, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration is finding far fewer guns in luggage than typical, discovering only 58 guns at checkpoints between March 22 and April 22 compared to 346 guns over the same period of 2019.

- OIn this day in 1990: A wrecking crane began tearing down the Berlin Wall at the historic Brandenberg Gate. The Wall had divided East and West Berlin since August 1961.

- Recovered diamond wedding ring. Kacie Fowle was at a beach in Santa Barbara, California, last week when she took off her wedding band and her diamond wedding ring to apply sunscreen. Fowle left her rings in her beach chair and didn’t realize until after leaving that her rings had been dropped. A search of the area managed to turn up her band, but not the diamond ring. … The woman put out a plea for help on Facebook, where the story came to the attention of a man named Anthony. Anthony took his metal detector to the beach and, using a photo Fowle sent him of the location where the ring was lost, was able to quickly locate the item. Fowle said Anthony declined to accept a reward for his deed.

- Exercising too hard. A 31-year-old woman in China suffered kidney failure after squatting 700 times while exercising.

- Jetblue Requires Masks. JetBlue has taken a step toward coronavirus protection while flying. The airline is the first in the United States to require passengers to wear masks while on board. Starting on May 4th, passengers must wear a mask to cover their face and nose during checking, boarding, flying, and deplaning. Since late March, JetBlue has reduced capacity on flights so passengers and crew could spread out. JetBlue's flight attendants have been wearing face coverings as well.




Fun Fact:
According to a study this happens to more than 90% of all large jackpot lottery winners. (They gain weight) #funfact



Matt's Musing:
Some of the best decisions I've ever made involved me clicking cancel instead of send…. #musing




Matt's Pick Song:
“I Won’t Have To Worry Anymore” by Jeff & Sheri Easter



Bible Trivia Answer:
D. Their Neighbor (Luke 10:29-37)

Radio Recap (Tuesday 04/28/2020)

Bible Trivia Question:
What fruit did the spies bring back to the Israelites’ camp from the promised land?
A. Bushel of Apples
B. Bundle of Bananas
C. Cluster of Grapes
D. Wagon of Apricots



In The News:

- National Superhero Day honors superheroes, both real and fictional. Batman, Superman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Iron Man, Hulk, and Spiderman are just some of the superheroes whose names we recognize. Even though they are fictional, these superheroes are great role models for our children. They serve and protect while fighting evil.

- Family photos replaced. Kristen Vogler is the prankster of her family and although most of her pranks are innocent, there was one that she’s been dying to do but never had the time until the Coronavirus hit. Kristen decided to use the quarantine to take a wall full of family photos and replace them with replicas drawn with crayon. Vogler replaced one photo a day with a hand drawn picture. For a total of eleven days, Kristen replaced a photo and even though she thought she would get caught several times, she didn’t. It wasn’t until day eleven that her family noticed and they had a good laugh about it.

- Disney offers free online animation classes. Still quarantined under a coronavirus lockdown? How about improving your art skills. Head over to Disney's YouTube channel for some free animation classes that will teach you how to draw many of their iconic characters, including Minnie Mouse, Elsa, and the Genie from Aladdin. It shouldn't take too long to achieve either, with the videos ranging from just 10 minutes to a half-hour. Here's an even better reason to pick up the pencil: studies show that drawing can improve your mental health and distract from sadness, especially during times of stress.

- Adopted via Zoom. An Arkansas couple weren't going to let the coronavirus pandemic stop them from adding to their family. Kimberly Weineke and her husband were trying to adopt a 2-year-old named Jaden - but the court date was cancelled due to the pandemic. Undeterred, the family held the court hearing over Zoom video chat instead - officially adopting Jaden earlier this month.

- National Great Poetry Reading Day. This day celebrates distinguished poetry and the notable poets who wrote them. Some of the well-known, great poets include William Shakespeare, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Robert Frost, Mark Twain, Emily Dickinson, and T.S. Eliot.

- Whales are more healthy right now. The coronavirus lockdown has been an inconvenience for many of us, but it's been great for the world's whale population. Researchers say the lack of ships in the ocean has reduced noise pollution levels - allowing whales and other marine animals to thrive. It's also giving scientists a chance to record and study whale songs with more clarity - an opportunity one scientist said "will not appear again in our lifetime".

- Phones Distract parents at parks. Research shows smartphones are one of the most common distractions for parents and caregivers to overcome while supervising children at playgrounds. When caregivers were observed at playgrounds, phones were involved in about 30 percent of distractions. But phones weren’t the top distraction. That designation goes to talking to other people — with phones just a fraction behind.

- Verizon and AT&T won’t cancel customers. Verizon and AT&T have made a promise to not cancel customers through June 30 because of the coronavirus pandemic. The seven-week extension on the no-disconnect promise comes as a follow-up to joining the Keep Americans Connected Pledge the companies made last month. Both companies will not "terminate service or charge late fees to postpaid wireless, residential, or small businesses" as long as they let the company know they are having trouble paying their bill due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

- National Blueberry Pie Day on April 28th each year ushers in blueberry pie-making season. Blueberry harvest begins in April and lasts until September giving us a long season full of blueberry enjoyment.

- Lasagna baby. A woman on reddit recently asked for advice on whether or not she should change her daughter’s name because it sounds like “lasagna.” Her daughter’s full name is Elizabeth Anya Jane, but they call her Liz Anya — and her family has been making fun of her for her name choice… The mom has since deleted her thread on reddit and, when contacted by BuzzFeed, she said she and her husband have decided they will now be legally changing their daughter’s name to Elizabeth Jane Anya instead of Elizabeth Anya Jane.

- Rise Of Skywalker, next week! Streaming services are helping us stay at home by releasing tons of content. One of the biggest releases will happen next week. Disney+ will stream Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker starting on Star Wars Day - May 4th. The blockbuster comes to Disney+ 2 months earlier than originally scheduled. With the arrival of The Rise Of Skywalker, all nine Star Wars movies will be available for streaming on one service.

- Bad Idea: Bomb threat at work. Richard Hamilton was having a bad day Thursday. He didn’t want to work. That’s why, according to investigators, he called in a bomb threat that morning to the Wellington, Florida, water treatment center, where he was working with a construction crew. Authorities arrested Hamilton on a charge of making a bomb threat during the coronavirus pandemic, a national emergency.

- Darth Vater must buckle up. In the UK a Darth Vader impersonator found the Force was against him after he was fined by cops for not wearing a seat belt.




Fun Fact:
Most women use it but 1 in 5 don’t know it has an expiration date...Makeup.

#funfact





Matt's Musing:
This pandemic is having an affect. I tried to daydream, but my mind kept wandering... #musing




Matt's Pick Song:
“I’ve Got A Love” by Greater Vision




Bible Trivia Answer:
C. Cluster of Grapes (Numbers 13:23)

Radio Recap (Monday 04/27/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
Who killed his brother when God refused to accept his sacrifice?
A. Jacob
B. Cane
C. Essua
D. Joseph



In The News:

- National Tell a Story Day on April 27th each year in the United States encourages people of all ages to share all kinds of stories. Whether it’s read from a book, one from your imagination, or an actual story from a childhood memory, the day supports gathering with friends and family to share those stories. Storytelling is an ancient practice used to hand down knowledge from one generation to the next. It’s a wonderful way to pass on family traditions, histories, and long told tales and can be entertaining as well as educational. Some of the very best stories come from real-life experience.

- Filtered coffee. A new study suggests that filtered coffee is the healthiest way to brew coffee. Researchers tracked participants for an average of 20 years. One of the results of the long-term study shows that drinking filtered coffee is safer than drinking no coffee at all. Filtered coffee was associated with a 15 percent lower risk of death from any cause, when compared to drinking no coffee. Further analysis of cardiovascular disease deaths shows that going filtered is linked to a 12 percent lower risk in men and 20 percent lower risk in women.… Drinking unfiltered coffee does not raise the risk of death when compared with drinking no coffee, but it is worse than going filtered. Overall, those that drink up to four cups of coffee a day were found to have the lowest mortality.

- Depressed eat more chocolate. Researchers (University of California) say people who are depressed eat more chocolate than people who are not. They said people who were depressed ate an average of 8.4 servings of chocolate per month, compared with 5.4 servings among those who were not. And people who had major depression based on results of a screening test ate even more — 11.8 servings per month. A serving was considered to be one small bar, or 1 ounce. What the study could not say was why people who are depressed eat more chocolate.

- Play it cool when a child falls. It’s hard not to wince when you see someone fall, hit their head, or run into someone. When a child does it, they’ll usually look to an adult to see how they should react. For this reason, it’s best to keep it cool. Often, when a child falls there’s a delay and they look at you — waiting for your reaction. You freak out, making them think something terrible has happened, so they start crying… Instead, wait and see what they do. If they seem OK, help them up if they are still down. Let them go back to playing. After all, falling down is part of being a kid, and usually not an event. Don’t make it into one. If they are hurt, it’s even more important not to freak out. What a scared kid needs is someone who is in control and taking care of things. Give them first aid or take them to the emergency room, calmly.

- National Prime Rib Day annually recognizes this special meal favorite on April 27th each year. Sometimes known as the “King of Meats,” Prime Rib is a choice cut from one of the eight prime cuts of beef.

- Rock Paper Scissors ruled invalid. A Superior Court in Canada (Quebec) has ruled a $500,000 debt incurred from three games of rock paper scissors is invalid. The loser of the RPS game was Edmund Mark Hooper. To pay for his losses he took out a mortgage on his house. But the Superior Court cancelled that mortgage. Quebec law stipulates that for a wagering contract to be valid, it must be related to activities “requiring only skill or bodily exertion on the part of the parties,” rather than to chance. Furthermore, the amount wagered must not be excessive… After the Superior Court cancelled the mortgage in 2017, it was appealed by Michel Primeau, who beat Hooper in the game of rock paper scissors. The appeals court reached a slightly different conclusion. While it found the game may call up a certain measure of skill, “it seems evident … that the game also involves a large part of chance, so that it does not take ‘only skill or bodily exertion on the part of the parties.'” The appeals court also upheld the lower court’s conclusion that the $500,000 wager was excessive… The best-of-three game took place in January 2011.

- Spanish man Busted for taking his fish on a walk. In Spain, a man was trying to take advantage of a rule allowing pet owners to leave their homes so that the pets can relieve themselves. The man was busted for taking his pet fish on a walk in its bowl. Police tweeted a picture of the suspect sitting on a bench with his finned friend. Last month, police in Spain caught a man in a T-rex costume roaming the city streets.

- On this day in 1981: The computer mouse was introduced. The average one of these is 8.75 inches by 7.5 inches. (Mouse pad)

- 4 habits can age you. A study which tracked nearly 5,000 British adults for 20 years found these four common bad habits combined can age you by 12 years: smoking, drinking too much, inactivity and poor diet.

- Miami goes murder free. For the first time since 1957, Miami, Florida has gone seven weeks without a reported homicide. While the lockdown orders are surely contributing to the crime curb, Miami Police said the trend began before the lockdown.

Miami went murder-free from February 17th through April 12th. Miami PD also says other crimes have decreased, too.

- Midlife Crisis Age. Music streaming service Spotify has pin-pointed the average age of midlife crises as 42. Staff analyzed data and found that users around 42 drop their usual playlists — which usually contain hits from their youth — in favor of today’s hits.

- National Babe Ruth Day. George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr., born on February 6, 1895, in Baltimore, Maryland was nicknamed “the Bambino” and “the Sultan of Swat.” Spending 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), he played for three teams from 1914 to 1935. Being one of the league’s most prolific hitters, he helped the Yankees win seven pennants and four World Series titles. Ruth set career records, in his time, for home runs, slugging percentage, runs batted in, and on-base plus slugging. In 1927, he was the very first player to hit 60 home runs in one season. At the age of 53, on August 16, 1948, at 8:01 pm, Babe Ruth died in his sleep.

- Parks and Recreation Reunion. Five years after its finale, NBC’s Parks and Recreation is returning for a scripted special to raise funds for Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund. The half-hour special will feature all of the original cast members: Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, Rob Lowe, Jim O’Heir, and Retta… The episode was shot from the cast members’ respective homes. Addressing our current situation, the special will center on Leslie Knope’s determination to stay connected to her friends while social distancing… You can catch the special on Thursday (April 30) on NBC.





Fun Fact:
Around the world each year roughly 9,200 people are injured by garage doors. #funfact



Bonus News (not mentioned on-air):
- Tater-Tot eating Burglar. A hungry California burglar broke into a home on a thieving mission, but got distracted when he found tater tots in the freezer. He made a snack, fell asleep and got busted when the homeowner found him napping on the couch.




Matt's Musing:
This pandemic is causing me to lose my thought of train.... #musing




Matt's Pick Song:
“I Wanna Know How It Feels” by Karen Peck & New River




Bible Trivia Answer:
B. Cane (Genesis 4:1-8)

Radio Recap (Friday 04/24/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
Who saw a vision of man urging him to come to Macedonia?
A. Joseph
B. Peter
C. Daniel
D. Paul



In The News:

- Each year in April, National Arbor Day encourages us to celebrate and plant trees. The observance takes place each year on the last Friday in April.

- Dogs may face separation anxiety. Most dogs are very happy to have their people at home during this time. Experts think that our canine friends might have a major issue with separation anxiety when lockdown restrictions are relaxed. A veterinarian behaviorist says, "Dogs thrive on consistency and predictability, as we all do, so any time there’s an abrupt change, it can cause stress.” This will most likely happen when adults go back to work and children go back to school at some point. A separation anxiety specialist said once you are leaving the house more often, practice with your pup by executing small absences so the dog gets used to you not being there for incremental increases in time.

- Windows Solitaire turns 30 in May. The most famous computer card game ever turns 30 next month. With Windows 3 back in May of 1990, Microsoft began including Solitaire as part of its Windows product line. The game was created a year earlier by Microsoft intern Wes Cherry, though the card deck itself was designed by an artist and graphic designer best known for her interface elements and typeface contributions to the first Apple Macintosh (Susan Kare). … Microsoft intended Solitaire “to soothe people intimidated by the operating system,” and at a time where many users were still unfamiliar with graphical user interfaces, it proved useful in familiarizing them with the use of a mouse, such as the drag-and-drop technique required for moving cards… At one time Solitaire was among the three most-used Windows programs.

- Dog drives tractor. In Scotland, a farmer hopped out of his tractor to wrangle up a rogue lamb. In his absence, a sheepdog hopped up onto the tractor and into the passenger seat and, by leaning on the dashboard control panel, managed to send the tractor down a hill and onto a road. No one was injured.

- National Pigs-in-a-Blanket Day. Pigs-in-a-Blanket is often hot dogs or sausages wrapped in biscuit or croissant dough and baked. Pigs-in-a-Blanket are generally served as an appetizer or as breakfast. However, it can be served at any mealtime!

- On this day in 1704: The first regular newspaper in the United States, the Boston, Massachusetts New-Letter, was first published.

- The Post-it Note turns 35. The Post-it Note is marking its 35th anniversary this month. The little yellow square of paper that changed lives was actually the product of an engineering mistake by 3M scientists who accidentally stumbled upon an adhesive like none other that could stick and be repositioned on just about any surface. The three-by-three-inch pad has also evolved over time and now comes in various sizes, shapes and colors.

- On the last Friday in April, National Hairball Awareness Day draws attention to a problem many cat lovers face.

- Simulated Kentucky Derby. With this year's Kentucky Derby postponed due to the coronavirus, NBC will be airing a 'virtual' derby in its place next month. A computer-simulated Run for the Roses will pit some of the greatest Derby winners in history - like Secretariat, War Admiral, and 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. The simulation will air May 2nd on NBC, raising money for COVID-19 emergency relief.The 'real' Kentucky Derby was postponed until Sept. 5th.

- Gum and Mint sales are bad. With more people staying at home, communicating through digital channels and aiming to maintain at least six feet of distance from others at all times, fresh breath has declined in importance. A new report says gum and mint sales are down around 40 percent since the start of the pandemic.




Fun Fact:
Each day in the U.S., 100,000 speeding tickets are issued. #funfact




Matt's Musing:
I can’t find my stencils; they’ve vanished without a trace... #musing




Bible Trivia Answer:
D. Paul (Acts 16:9)

Radio Recap (Thursday 04/23/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
What was the man that Jesus freed of many demons, sending them into a large herd of pigs?
A. Judas
B. Luke
C. Barabbas
D. Legion



In The News:

- National Picnic Day encourages everyone to pack up their lunch and take it outdoors.

There are a variety of ways to take part in a picnic. This meal hearkens back to mid-18th-century al fresco French dining when all you needed was a bottle of wine, a loaf of bread, some cheese and fruit and you could have a party under the sky.

- Facebook to Label National Origin. Facebook said Wednesday it will label posts from popular accounts with their geographic origin in an attempt to curb political misinformation by foreign-based pages. The new policy will apply to popular pages about elections, entertainment and other topics and will stamp every post they make on Facebook and Instagram with its origin. For instance, an Instagram account targeting U.S. voters but based in Brazil will have every post labeled with “Based in Brazil.” Users then can swipe to find out more information about the account… It’s the social network’s latest attempt to fight election-related misinformation. Russia and other countries have been using social media to try to influence political discourse in the U.S. and elsewhere, often by masquerading as local interest groups. Facebook will initially target pages based outside of the U.S. that reach a large number of people inside the U.S.

- Hoarding Frozen Pizzas. As if shortages of hand sanitizer and toilet paper weren’t bad enough now there’s a shortage of frozen pizzas. Americans have bought approximately $275 million worth of frozen pizza since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March. That’s an increase of 92 percent compared to the same time last year… At the Home Run Inn Pizza factory in a suburb of Chicago, employees are cranking out 85,000 pizzas a day.

- Earth is cleaner. While the coronavirus is keeping people inside more, the planet and some of its creatures are reclaiming some space. Air pollution levels in the Northeast United States are down 30 percent. In Rome, Italy, air pollution is down 49 percent. The smog in India has lifted allowing people to see sights not visible in years. Urban wildlife sightings have increased as well. Coyotes in San Francisco and Chicago, goats in Wales, and a kangaroo hopping down an empty street in Adelaide, Australia have been viewed on social media videos. David Godfrey of the Sea Turtle Conservancy says sea turtle nesting seems better across the world with beachfront lights not being on at night. Godfrey commented, "There's some silver lining for wildlife in what otherwise is a fairly catastrophic time for humans."

- National Talk Like Shakespeare Day encourages us to speak like the Bard and the characters in his plays. Born April 23, 1564, William Shakespeare is the author of some of the world’s most celebrated plays and poems. In 2016, we honored the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death. What better way to celebrate his life and art than to speak like the poet and playwright. We can speak like Shakespeare by substituting thou, thee and ye for you and they. Rhyming couplets and creative insults were his particular favorites. Many of the phrases we use today we can owe to Shakespeare.

- Sleep, then nap. Researchers offer more evidence that successful study habits should include plenty of napping. They found that people who take a nap and dream about a task they’ve just learned, perform it better upon waking than either those who don’t sleep at all or those who sleep but don’t report any associated dreams.

- Verizon extends mobile data. Verizon will keep offering additional mobile data for a while longer to help people deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. The carrier is adding another 15GB of LTE data to regular and small business shared data plans, including hotspots, for the entire month of May. You won’t have to do a thing — it’ll be applied automatically.

- On this day in 1985: Coca-Cola changed its formula and releases New Coke. The response is overwhelmingly negative, and the original formula was back on the market in less than 3 months.

- National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day encourages parents to take their children to work.

- Twins at 68. A Nigerian woman has given birth to twins, a boy, and a girl at the age of 68. Margaret Adenuga went through three previous IVF procedures before finally having twins. Her husband, who’s 77, said they married in 1974 and had long desired to have a child of their own. Adenuga said they never gave up even after the failed attempts.

- Women Donors are more Generous. Female donors are giving more gifts and at greater value. A study (Indiana University) examined more than 3.7 million gift transactions on four online giving platforms, including GivingTuesday, GlobalGiving, Givelify, and Growfund. The study found women are giving more dollars than men across the platforms.

- National Cherry Cheesecake Day. Cookbooks and bakers offer a large variety of recipes for cherry cheesecake. Some cherry cheesecake recipes call for the cherries to be mixed into the batter and others place the cherries on top.

- Burglar Hooks Himself. A burglar in Germany was caught because he couldn’t run from his crime. He broke into a fishing store, then lost his balance and fell onto a display of fish hooks. The thief ended up with several fish hooks in his backside. And there was no doubt where they came from, since price tags from the damaged store were still attached to them. One was embedded so deeply he needed hospital treatment to get it out.

- On this day in 1635: The first public school in the United States, Boston Latin School, was founded in Boston, Massachusetts.




Fun Fact:
What song is the easiest song to get stuck in people’s heads? Studies have found that the song is “It’s a Small World.” #funfact




Bonus News (not mentioned on-air):
Disney is working on a new Star Wars show for Disney+. The series, which is said to be “female-centric,” takes place in a different part of the Star Wars timeline than other projects.




Matt's Musing:
Since drones are a big hit during this time of "stay-at-home"... you could say, they are literally flying off the shelves... #musing



Matt's Pick Song:
“My Name Is Lazarus” by Greater Vision



Bible Trivia Answer:
D. Legion (Luke 8:30-32)

Radio Recap (Wednesday 04/22/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
Who was granted wisdom by God because he asked of it instead long life, riches, or life of his enemies?
A. Saul
B. David
C. Solomon
D. Nebuchadnezzar



In The News:

- National Administrative Professionals’ Day, also known as Secretaries Day or Admin Day, recognizes the professionals who keep an office running smoothly every day. Celebrate these professionals on the Wednesday of the last full week in April of each year. The day recognizes the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals. Central to any business, these professionals keep an office organized and efficient.

- depression cake, Don't look now, but thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, "depression cake" is becoming popular again. If you're asking what exactly is "depression cake?" It's a cake that doesn't require milk, eggs, or butter and it became a thing during The Great Depression when food supplies were limited. Ingredients for the dessert include flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and a few other things from the pantry topped with whipped cream or powdered sugar. The dessert, also known as "wacky cake" is becoming more and more popular as many are self-isolating and can't make it to the grocery store for supplies.

- Parents say Lockdown brought Closeness. According to a survey of parents, four in five believe their families have formed an even stronger bond since parents and kids have more time together during the lockdown. The survey finds that half of families are getting together to play board games and make puzzles. Another 30 percent say they’ve formed book clubs and read together. About one in four families are doing — or plan to do — some family gardening.

- Pull your own teeth? Desperate people are taking measures into their own hands with some extreme DIY dentistry, as practices remain shuttered during the coronavirus lockdown. The American Dental Association has recommended that dentists stay closed for non-emergency procedures until April 30. Similar guidelines are in place in other countries, too. But that hasn’t stopped the some people from pulling their own teeth. Billy Taylor, who lives in the UK, used a pair of pliers to yank out his infected tooth after he was denied an appointment. The pain had become too “excruciating.” The father attempted to call his dentist but didn’t get through. And when he called emergency services, he was told he “shouldn’t go in until it was restricting my breathing.” Taylor shared on social media: “My face was swelling and I had a migraine on that side. It got really bad that night and the swelling was getting worse. I was pretty wound up.”

… So, armed with some YouTube videos, a pair of pliers and a couple of shots of whiskey, he got to work. He had his 11-year-old son Leo keep an eye on him in case he passed out from the pain. The procedure was a success, but “the process was bloody painful … I probably wouldn’t recommend it, unless you know what you are doing. You could crush the whole tooth.”

- National Jelly Bean Day. Who can resist a handful of sweet jelly beans on National Jelly Bean Day? Well on April 22nd each year, you really don’t have to resist at all. As a celebration, enjoying them is a must! While candies made in a similar manner existed before the jelly bean, Boston confectioner William Schrafft made them popular during the Civil War. With their firm exterior, jelly beans were the first candies sold by the pound. Schrafft encouraged his customers to send them to Union soldiers. In the 1930s, jelly beans became closely associated with the Easter holiday thanks to their egg-like shape. However, confectioners make jelly beans available all year long now. So, there’s no excuse not to enjoy them if you have a craving at any time of the year.

- Seniors receive cards. Columbia Missouri senior citizens are receiving cheerful pieces of mail thanks to a local insurance company Senior Services Marketing. It’s a program called S.O.S - Save our Seniors. The company said it wanted to make sure seniors weren’t being forgotten during the pandemic. The program’s Facebook page for S.O.S. is where people share pictures of the cards they’ve made to send and share stories of seniors in assisted living homes.

- Walking could cut strokes. A study says walking may be an important weapon for women in the fight against stroke. The study found that women who walked for two or more hours a week had a lower risk of stroke than those who walked for less than two hours a week.

- Disneyland illegal entrance. Police say an 18-year-old man was arrested after he broke into Disneyland Sunday. The California park is currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Police believe the suspect’s motive may have been to steal items or equipment from a construction site in the park.

- Each year on April 22nd, National Earth Day campaigns around the globe promote ways to preserve the Earth. The idea is to educate the public on: Pollution, erosion, recycling, ecosystems, carbon footprints, etc.

- Non-popping kernels. Scientists say they now know why some popcorn kernels resist popping into puffy white globes. It’s long been known that popcorn kernels must have a precise moisture level in their starchy center — about 15 percent — to explode. But Purdue University researchers found the key to a kernel’s explosive success lies in the composition of its hull. Unpopped kernels, it turns out, have leaky hulls that prevent the moisture pressure buildup needed for them to pop and lack the optimal hull structure that allows most kernels to explode.

- Daughter helps blind dad drive. Argentine police arrested a blind man for driving a pickup truck with help from his 13-year-old daughter. The blind man was operating the gas and brake while his daughter gave directions and steered the truck. The pair were doing pretty well until a few erratic movements caught the attention of a patrol car.

- Netflix subscribers surge. Netflix’s added more than double the expected subscribers in the first three months of the year, massive growth that can only be attributed to one thing: COVID-19. Netflix, the world’s dominant streaming-video subscription service operating basically everywhere except China, said subscribers grew by 15.77 million to 182.86 million total.




Fun Fact:
There are 412 doors in the White House. #funfact




Matt's Musing:
Would odorless perfumes be considered "non-scents".... #musing




Matt's Pick Song:
“Farther Along” by the Down East Boys




Bible Trivia Answer:
C. Solomon (1 Kings 3:10-12)

Radio Recap (Tuesday 04/21/2020)

Bible Trivia Question:
What king witnessed the handwriting on the wall?
A. Nebuchadnezzar
B. Belshazzar
C. Darius
D. Pharaoh



In The News:

- National Library Workers Day recognizes the valuable contributions library staff make every day to their communities through their hard work and dedication. The observance takes place annually on the Tuesday of National Library Week.

- Librarian Reading to kids with SM. For years, Ms. Betty has been reading to kids every weekend on social media. Ms Betty is Betty Lawson. She runs the Children’s Room at the Wayne County Public Library in Pennsylvania and she and loves getting kids interested in reading. During the stay-at-home order, Betty found a new way to connect to them at home through a virtual storytime. What started out as a Sunday nighttime book reading has turned into Betty reading to kids multiple times a week… The majority of her audience is in Pennsylvania, but she has viewers in Europe, Egypt and Australia.

- Kodak released a 51,300-piece jigsaw puzzle. If social distancing has your bored like crazy, Kodak has something for that. Kodak has just released a 51,300-piece jigsaw puzzle that will take about 500 hours or between 16 to 21 days to complete. To date, this is the largest jigsaw puzzle divided into 27 sections, representing a wonder from around the world. The puzzle will set you back $600 but you can find it as low as $400 online.

- Flat Soda. If you hate flat soda, you're not going to be happy with what you're about to hear. The current coronavirus pandemic is causing a shortage of carbonated beverages that could shake things up worse than the rush to get toilet paper. CO2 suppliers are having a hard time getting ethanol that is essential in making soda. According to reports, CO2 production has fallen by 20 percent and could drop to 50 percent by the end of the month.

- National Chocolate Covered Cashews Day is observed each year on April 21st. Not unlike other nuts, cashews and chocolate get along well together. Of course, chocolate lovers savor the combination of nutty crunch and creamy, rich chocolate.

- Spendemic. While millions of people file for unemployment or struggle to make ends meet during the pandemic, others are splurging on high-priced luxury goods. Calling it the "spendemic", the New York Post talked to people who have spent the quarantine shopping for furniture, clothing, and high-priced artisanal foods. Some experts say shopping helps give people a "sense of control" in panicked times. Overall online purchases were up 13 percent in the first week of April.

- Easiest way to make 9 friends. The easiest way to make 9 new friends? Have a baby. A study found a woman’s circle of friends shoots from 13 to 22 after having children. Why? It’s easier to bond with other women once you have a baby.

- Android vs. iPhone. Police in Oklahoma responded to an apartment complex to investigate the report of a person roaming around the parking lot. Police found two roommates, each in a state of distress. One of the roommates told police that his wounds resulted from an argument between the two that started over which of them had the better smartphone, Apple or Android.

- Men Lie about Car Dents. A lot of husbands like to think they’re better drivers than their wives. A lot of wives like to think that they’re better drivers than their husbands. So what do they tell each other when they do something wrong in a car? Apparently not much. About 1,000 husbands and wives were surveyed about what they do and don’t tell their spouse when it comes to damaging the family cars or other little illegal driving mishaps and shenanigans.

• 35 percent blame dings on someone else

• 25 percent don’t tell their partner about a ticket

• 24 percent keep car accidents a secret.

• 19 percent admit to driving without insurance and then not saying anything to their spouse.

• About 42 percent of men ding a car and then blame it on someone else, compared to 27 percent of women.

- Finding Lost Apples. North America once had 17,000 named varieties of domesticated apples. Today, only 4,500 are known to exist. However, all is not lost: the Lost Apple Project, working from evidence that settlers planted several hundred varieties in the Pacific Northwest, has scoured their trails to try to find heirs of those trees. A team of Lost Apple investigators rediscovered 10 apple varieties that had been thought extinct, found in 140-year-old orchards in canyons and forests in Idaho and Washington.

- Diet of Processed Meats. Obvious: A diet containing lots of processed meats, like hot dogs and sausages, raises the risk of pancreatic cancer, according to a large study. Researchers found that heavy consumers of processed meats (40 grams a day or more) were 67 percent more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than study participants with the lowest intake.

- Need rain, Marry your Frogs. Need rain on your yard or garden? The residents of Bangladesh say you should perform mock marriages with frogs. One farmer says after two frogs were “married,” it rained within hours.

- Princess Bride is coming. It's just been announced, the classic film The Princess Bride is coming to Disney Plus on May 1. Disney even went the extra mile and had Robin Wright and Cary Elwes come together for a video chat to announce the film coming to the streaming service.

- On this day in 1998: While Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates presented his new Windows 98 computer operating system to a Chicago convention group, it crashed.




Fun Fact:
Each year in the U.S. roughly 6,000 people check into emergency rooms after being injured by what? (Pillows) #funfact




Bonus News (not mentioned on-air):
Oh NO! Giving new meaning to the phrase, "Silent but deadly," researchers in Australia have determined the coronavirus could be spread by passing gas.


A California TV reporter got into a hairy situation while filing a report from her bathroom — when her naked hubby was caught in the shower. Melinda Meza of Sacramento’s KCRA3 recorded herself cutting her bangs for a story about hairstylists during the coronavirus quarantine when her camera captured more than she bargained for. Her husband, Mike de Lambert, apparently is seen in a reflection in the background, unaware that his privates were beamed over the airwaves.





Matt's Musing:
I had hoped that after purchasing a dictionary and thesaurus, my life would become more meaningful.... #musing



Matt's Pick Song:
“On A Journey” by Greater Vision



Bible Trivia Answer:
B. Belshazzar (Daniel 5:1-6)

Radio Recap (Monday 04/20/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
Who stepped out of the boat, walked on the water, and came to Jesus?
A. Peter
B. James
C. Thomas
D. Jonah




In The News:

- National Look Alike Day on April 20th celebrates those who look like another person. Do you look like another family member, a famous person, or even a friend?

- Seashells pile up. The lack of tourists on the beaches of North Carolina’s Outer Banks due to the coronavirus pandemic has created a seashell-lover’s dream. The Cape Lookout National Seashore shared a video to Facebook showing large piles of colorful shells spread across a beach as waves splash over them. The shells are usually gathered by beach-goers every spring, but the number of collectors has been sharply curtailed due to coronavirus restrictions.

- Mother’s Day Delima. Mother’s Day is in May — will you get your mom or wife a gift even if she says, “Don’t get me anything?” What about her birthday, or Valentine’s Day? A survey finds that even if a wife or girlfriend says, “Don’t get me anything,” 88 percent of men will ignore her wishes and get her something. Good idea, since women in the survey said even if they say they don’t want anything, 63 percent still expect a small gift.

- Restaurant Quarantine. A man has been arrested after quarantining himself in a closed Connecticut restaurant and helping himself to thousands of dollars worth of food and drink during a four-day binge. Louis Angel Ortiz was arrested last week after allegedly eating his way through the supplies of a Cuban restaurant which has temporarily closed because of coronavirus. Ortiz inhaled several thousand dollars worth of food and booze, including roughly 70 bottles of liquor.

- Grab your toppings on April 20th... to celebrate National Cheddar Fries Day! What better way to enjoy your fries than with an indulgent dollop of cheddar cheese?

- Facebook Gaming app. Facebook wants you to stop playing game apps on your phone and install its Facebook Gaming app — you can play its mobile games instead. Facebook Gaming launches today and will include some casual games to play as well as community functions, but the focus will primarily be on watching and creating game livestreams. You can both catch up with streamers and use a Go Live feature to stream mobile games through your Facebook page.

- Hulk may come back to Marvel Studios. Marvel Studios continues to reclaim the rights to various superhero properties. After the Fox merger, they acquired the X-Men and Fantastic Four and now they may have snagged another big piece. According to a source, Marvel has reportedly gotten the rights back to the Hulk, which Universal owned for many years, which means the door is now open to make another solo Hulk movie.

- On this day in 1916: Chicago Cubs played their first game at Weeghman Park — now Wrigley Field. They defeated the Cincinnati Reds 7-6.

- Calling phone reveals theft. In Nigeria, a woman was nabbed by a restaurant customer who said he saw her steal a phone from another diner. Police quizzed the woman without success and were about to let her go when someone suggested they call the phone. After dialing the number, they heard a sound coming from under the woman’s clothes and took her to jail.

- Cigarettes are still Damaging to health. While the negative health effects of smoking have been well known for decades, many social smokers consider a few cigarettes a day not to be the biggest deal. French doctors, who conducted a recent study, have found that a third of smokers claimed up to 10 cigarettes a day was not associated with any risk of lung cancer. On top of that worrying statistic, only half of full-time smokers considered themselves at higher risk of lung cancer than the general population. Researchers said they were shocked that half of the people studied thought there was such thing as a “safe cigarette.”





Fun Fact:
All gondolas in Venice, Italy, have this in common. (They must be painted black, the result of a 17th-century law, enacted to eliminate competition between nobles for the fanciest rig) #funfact




Matt's Musing:
The fact that my entire body cracks like a glow-stick whenever I move, yet refuses to actually glow... is very disappointing. #musing



Matt's Pick Song:

“Go And Tell Somebody” by the Kingsmen



Bible Trivia Answer:
A. Peter (Matthew 14:29)

Radio Recap (Friday 04/17/20)

Bible Trivia Question:Who helped her favorite son trick his father into blessing him?
A. Rachel
B. Sarah
C. Hannah
D. Rebekah




In The News:

- National Cheeseball Day recognizes a party food that can sometimes be the centerpiece of a spread. 1 - A cheese spread comes in the shape of a ball served with crackers, most often around Christmas in the U.S. This cheeseball is commonly made with softened cream cheese and other ingredients. - Cheese puffs, which is a puffed corn snack, coated with a mixture of cheese or cheese flavored powders. Cheese puffs are manufactured by extruding heated corn dough through a die that forms the particular shape, most likely a ball shape.

- Stimulus in wrong accounts. Some Americans say they haven’t gotten their coronavirus stimulus checks because the feds sent the money to the wrong bank accounts. Several taxpayers tried to check the status of their payments on the Internal Revenue Service’s website only to discover the agency put the money in accounts they didn’t recognize or no longer use… An IRS spokeswoman (Jodie Reynolds) said money should be rejected by banks and returned to the IRS if it was deposited in the wrong account. If that happens the IRS will cut a paper check.

- MLP Reducing Salaries. For all those out there that think sports players get paid too much for just playing a game can rejoin ein the news. Although Major League Baseball officials have said they'll pro-rate players' salaries when the 2020 season eventually gets underway, they're reportedly considering changing their tune -- especially if games are played in empty ballparks. Baseball officials are now facing the reality of earning nothing from ticket or concession sales. News of the considered paycuts isn't sitting well with many players and agents, who say their agreement to take pro-rated salaries should remain in place regardless of whether the stands are empty.

- Online Banking Struggles. You may experience trouble logging into your bank account online. Due to the COVID-19 stimulus checks being sent out to many Americans, people are logging in to check and see if their money has been deposited into their accounts. Chase, Capital One, PNC Bank and others have reported increased volume and outages as balance inquiries have spiked in the last few days. More than 80 million people with direct deposit were eligible to get some stimulus money on Wednesday from the IRS.

- On this day in 1970: The ill-fated Apollo 13 spacecraft returned safely to Earth.

- National Bat Appreciation Day reminds us of the roles bats play in our daily lives. Since bats are considered to be an “insectivorous” creature, they rid our world of many annoying insects. In one hour, a bat can eat up to 1,000 mosquitoes.

- Paper better than air dryers. We knew it! We’ve mentioned past studies that say hand dryers in restrooms stink. They don’t dry your hands and, more importantly, they blow droplets off your hands and onto your clothes, the floor, your purse, etc. New research (University of Leeds) once again shows that using paper towels is substantially more effective than jet dryers for removing microbes when still contaminated hands are dried.

- Home Renovation Show. HGTV is launching a coronavirus quarantine-inspired show called Design at Your Door, where “desperate homeowners” will film themselves doing home renovation as experts give them advice remotely.

- On this day in 1973: Federal Express delivered its first package.

- Frozen Sausage Assault. A driver in the UK suffered a broken nose after a frozen sausage was thrown through an open window of his car. After the sausage assault, the man managed to stop his car without hitting anyone else.

- Police in England received reports of a reckless driver. Officers pursued the vehicle, but it stopped and the occupants ran. But they left behind their mobile phones, a quantity of cash, and a plastic tub containing drugs.

- Amazon Developing Own Covid-19 test. Amazon is creating its own test for coronavirus. CEO Jeff Bezos wrote about it in his annual letter to shareholders. Bezos said regular testing in every industry is needed to get the economy back up and running. A team of Amazon workers from different units will help develop tools to test for COVID-19. Tests on "small numbers" of employees will happen soon.





Fun Fact:
A study says doing this relaxes women and boosts their happiness more than shopping. (Watching a favorite TV program) #funfact





Fun:
TOP BOARD GAMES PEOPLE ARE BUYING ON AMAZON

A lot of people are buying board games online as they try to find ways to pass the time while staying safe at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. Here are the top board games being purchased on Amazon.

10. Scrabble. The word-creation classic.

9. Guess Who. This is a two player game where opponents attempt to guess which character out of 24 possibilities their opponent has picked.

8. Catan the Board Game. A civilization building game is for three to four players.

7. Battleship With Planes. This classic head-to-head strategy game has a little twist as it features airplanes in addition to ships.

6. Zingo. This twist on Bingo is geared for the little ones in your family who can’t read yet or are just starting to read.

5. Sequence. This game of strategy is all about getting five in a row.

4. Codenames. Teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first.

3. Monopoly. No explanation necessary.

2. Sorry. Each player gets four pawns to move around the board.

1. Connect 4. Choose which colored discs you want, gold or red. Then, drop them one at at time into the grid, alternating with your opponent. The first player to get four discs in a row wins.




Matt's Musing:
You know your parenting skills are awesome when you notice that your kids replaced the toilet paper on their own... And the right direction! #musing




Matt's Pick Song:
“Sustaining Grace” by Karen Peck & New River




Bible Trivia Answer:
D. Rebekah (Genesis 27:5-17)

Radio Recap (Thursday 04/16/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
What did Jacob name the place where he saw the ladder of angels?
A. Bethel
B. Jericho
C. Canaan
D. Babylon




In The News:

- National Wear Your Pajamas To Work Day allows us a reprieve after meeting a late-night deadline shuffling receipts and adding columns to file our taxes.

- Driving Blind. In the UK a blind man was busted after police spotted his car on the wrong side of the road. He was being guided by someone who was in the passenger seat that had lost their license.

- Money and Happiness. According to findings of a psychological study (San Francisco State University), your happiness depends on how you spend your hard-earned cash, not how much you have. The study’s authors tracked college students and asked them to rate how happy they felt after making experience purchases — concert tickets, drinks with the girls — versus stuff — big-screen TVs, another must-have handbag. Turns out those who shelled out for experiences were more likely to say the purchase boosted their endorphins, and that it was money well spent — regardless of how much or little the outing cost.

- CEO gives personal cell#. The CEO of the video game company Activision Blizzard is using the coronavirus pandemic to (safely) get closer to his employees. Bobby Kotick says that he gave out his personal phone number to 10,000 workers and said he “encouraged every single employee that has a concern that relates to their health care” to contact him. So far, a “few hundred” have reached out… Kotick said that luckily only a “small number” of the video game-maker employees have contracted COVID-19. He’s using the pandemic to bolster the company’s health care options, including making private doctors available, paying for some employee drug co-pays, and offering telehealth options. The company is also letting employees work from home.

- Each year on the third Thursday in April, we observe National High Five Day. This is a fun day where you can “High Five” everyone that you see.

- Streaming 8 Hours per day. A new survey finds the average American is currently streaming eight hours of content per day and finishing three TV series per week. We all have some extra free time on our hands right now, but at this rate many people may exhaust the entire Netflix library by summer.

- FL Man arrested for threat. A Florida man was arrested after deputies say he threatened a mass shooting at a grocery store because “not enough people” were wearing masks outside during the COVID-19 pandemic. Robert Kovner, age 62, was arrested and booked for the threat he wrote on Facebook.

- New iPhone. Apple on Wednesday announced the new iPhone SE, a lower-cost iPhone that starts at $399. It has the same basic shape and look as the iPhone 8, which means it has a 4.7-inch screen. It is available for preorder this Friday and it will ship on April 24.



Fun Fact:
The average HUG lasts three seconds. #funfact




Matt's Musing:
I knew parenting would be mentally taxing, but I didn't realize most of that would be pretending to listen to so much talk about video games and movies… #musing



Matt's Pick Song:
“I Get Down” by Gold City



Bible Trivia Answer:
Bethel (Genesis 28:10-19)

Radio Recap (Wednesday 04/15/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
Besides praying, what did Jesus do before he raised Lazarus from the dead?
A. He cried
B. He sang
C. He laughed
D. He danced




In The News:

- April 15th of each year is National Tax Day. In the United States, the term “tax day” refers to the day on which individual income tax returns are due to the federal government. The day may also refer to April 15th for state tax returns. 2020 tax filing deadline is July 15 for 2019 tax returns due to the impact of Covid19.

- Listen to your hairstylists. A gentle reminder during this coronavirus quarantine: hairstylists would like you to stop asking them to risk their license by cutting customers’ hair. In many states, hair salons are one of the businesses deemed non-essential during the stay-at-home order.

- Doomscrolling. Ever find yourself glued to your phone screen, mindlessly thumbing through depressing news for hours on end? There’s a word for that: “doomscrolling.” The new phrase — which has joined the ranks of other coronavirus-inspired terms like “quarantini,” “quarantine 15,” and “zoombombing” — is making the rounds on social media to describe everyone’s incessant need to consume somber stories.

- Animals to your Zoom. As Zoom becomes the go-to means of long-distance communication during the coronavirus lockdown, a California farm has devised a novel way for isolated workers to spice up work-from-home video conferences: inviting a barn animal to the chat. Sweet Farm offers Goat 2 Meeting, a play on GoToMeeting, which is a Zoom competitor… Just $65 grants Zoomers an audience with goats, sheep, pigs, cows, turkeys and llamas. Naturally, being conference-bombed by a barn animal might sound distracting. However, a Sweet Farm co-owner says most companies do it during a casual happy hour or event with kids.

- National Titanic Remembrance Day is dedicated to the memory of the lives lost when the Titanic sank into the icy waters of the North Atlantic Ocean in April 1912. We remember the more than 1,500 people who died that day. Known as the “the unsinkable ship,” the Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40 pm on April 14, 1912, on her maiden voyage from England to New York City. Later, in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean, on April 15, the Titanic sank. Those who perished did so mainly due to an insufficient number of lifeboats onboard the ship.

- War Veteran Walks Laps. A 99-year-old British war veteran has raised more than $5 million for the country’s National Health Service (NHS) as he aims to complete 100 laps of his garden, aided by a walking frame. Tom Moore, who will turn 100 on April 30, began the challenge last Thursday to raise money for NHS Charities Together, which raises funds for UK hospitals, including for staff, volunteers and patients impacted by the coronavirus crisis… He had originally set a target of raising $1,257 by his 100th birthday and walks 10 laps each day in his garden, in Yorkshire, north England. But within 24 hours he exceeded that target and has since smashed the $5 million mark, with donations continuing to flood in. He has so far walked 80 laps, and plans to complete 100 laps by the end of Thursday.

- Mobile Game Downloads. Quarantined humans are passing the time playing games. The week of March 29, worldwide people downloaded over 1.2 billion mobile games, which is 50 percent higher than the typical weekly load. A survey of 3,000 gamers found that in the U.S., 70 percent said they were spending more time gaming, while 39 percent were spending more money.

- On this day in 1955: Ray Kroc opened his first franchise of McDonald’s restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois.

- Daredevil Men disappoint Women. Daredevil men who believe they can attract women with their reckless behavior should think again. A survey of 100 men and women by researchers showed that women are not impressed by bungee jumping and other risky types of behavior but actually prefer men who take fewer chances. One theory to explain risky male behavior is that men are showing off their strength and bravery to woo potential partners. But a researcher said women prefer high-status males to risk-takers.

- Correcting mistakes since 1770, National Rubber Eraser Day on April 15th commemorates the date the invention first began making written errors disappear.

Tablets of rubber (or wax) were used to erase lead or charcoal marks from paper before there were rubber erasers. Another option for the eraser was crustless bread. April 15, 1770, Joseph Priestly founded a vegetable gum to remove pencil marks. He dubbed the substance “rubber.”

- Canceling in-person classes. Universities all over the country are now considering canceling in-person classes until 2021. Among them is Boston University, which has already pulled the plug on all in-person summer classes and activities. Beyond that, the school's coronavirus recovery plan allows for administrators to cancel the fall semester as well. "The recovery plan recognizes that if, in the unlikely event that public health officials deem it unsafe to open in the fall of 2020, then the university’s contingency plan envisions the need to consider a later in-person return, perhaps in January 2021," a statement issued by Boston University reads.

- Sam’s Club. Sam's Club is helping out the healthcare workers on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic with its new 'Hero Hours' program. Starting this Sunday, stores open from 8-10am just for first responders and healthcare workers to shop - even if they don't have a Sam's Club membership. The store will also provide masks and practice social distancing. The company says its Hero Hours will "help your community's heroes do what they do best - keep you safe".




Fun Fact:
The most common speed limit sign in the United States is… (25 MPH) #funfact



Matt's Musing:
When I was a kid I would never have believed how much parenting in 2020 involves finding missing phone chargers... #musing




Matt's Pick Song:
“Down On My Knees” by Chris Hester



Bible Trivia Answer:
A. He cried (John 11:35-42)

Radio Recap (Tuesday 04/14/2020)

Bible Trivia Question:
When Moses came off the mountain after receiving God’s laws, what did he put over his face?
A. A turban
B. A veil
C. A handkerchief
D. A surgical mask



In The News:

- Look Up At The Sky Day encourages us to admire the beauty above us. On this day we all hope for good weather and an opportunity to fill our eyes with the sky from horizon to horizon.

- 1865: Abraham Lincoln was shot in Ford’s Theatre by John Wilkes Booth. President Abraham Lincoln was shot 155 years ago today (April 14) and died at 7:22AM on April 15. The last living witness died in 1956. Samuel J. Seymour was just 5 when he was in attendance at Ford’s Theatre the night of the assassination. Seymour was the last living witness to the event. He died in April 1956 at the age of 96.

- Walk to Live. Get up and start walking. The more you do it, the longer you may live. That’s the main piece of advice from a new study (National Cancer Institute; National Institute on Aging; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) that found a higher daily step count is associated with a lower mortality risk from all causes. Even better, the study also noted that it’s not about intensity; you don’t have to run or even jog all day to enjoy a longer life. Just put one foot in front of the other.… Participants who walked 8,000 steps per day had a 51% lower risk of dying from any cause than those who only walked 4,000 steps per day. Moreover, 12,000 steps per day was linked to a 65% lower mortality risk than 4,000 daily steps.

- Prom Dance with Dad. A high school senior from Alabama thought there was no hope she would be able to experience prom during the coronavirus outbreak — until her father pulled a surprise to make it happen. In a now-viral Facebook video posted on April 4, high schooler Marli Odgers is seen wearing a sparkling prom dress while dancing with her father, Robby, to the song Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts. Marli’s sister explained in the Facebook post: “Marli was supposed to have her senior prom today. She just thought it was canceled. My sweet dad made her get up and go to prom this morning. Memories we will cherish forever — even in the middle of the chaos and craziness.”

- National Gardening Day on April 14th encourages gardeners and would-be gardeners to pick up a shovel and some seeds and kick-off a beautiful year of homegrown bounty.

Whether you want to grow vegetables, fruit, flowers, houseplants, or anything in between, National Gardening Day celebrates a satisfying pastime that you will enjoy for decades.

- TP Theft. Authorities in India are hoping to find the person who robs businesses of their toilet paper. Over the last few months a dozen or so small businesses have been broken into after hours and robbed of their toilet tissue. The thief takes nothing else.

- On this day in 1912: The British passenger liner RMS Titanic hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic. It would sink the following morning and take with it 1,503 lives.

- National Dolphin Day recognizes the social and intelligent mammals of the water. Found worldwide, they prefer the shallower seas of the continental shelves. As carnivores, their diet consists of mostly fish and squid.

- Fake ID. A passenger traveling on a train through Germany was caught by ticket inspectors using a driver’s license bearing the name and image of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

- On this day 1828: Noah Webster copyrighted the first edition of his dictionary.

- National Pecan Day on April 14th celebrates one nut native to the United States. It’s also a favorite snack and ingredient across the country. A member of the hickory family, the pecan is native to central and southern United States. How do you pronounce it?




Fun Fact:
The average American household has 16 of these. (Cookbooks) #funfact



Matt's Musing:
I feel as if I now have more electronic screens in my life than friends… #musing



Matt's Pick Song:
“Day One” by Jason Crab



Bible Trivia Answer:
B. A veil (Exodus 34:33-35)

Radio Recap (Monday 04/13/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
How did Judas point out to the crowd that Jesus was the man to be arrested?
A. By a hug
B. By a kiss
C. A high five
D. By a fist-bump



In The News:

- National Thomas Jefferson Day each year on April 13th honors the birth of the third President of The United States, Thomas Jefferson, who was born April 13, 1743.

Most known as the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was a stalwart of democracy. While not much an orator, his pen cut quite a swath of ink through correspondence, documents, journals, and manuscripts.

- Two large meals. It looks like less really is more when it comes to weight loss. A study found that eating just breakfast and lunch, as opposed to six small meals throughout the day, was more successful at lowering body mass index. The study tracked 54 people with Type 2 diabetes over a period of 12 weeks. Eating two meals a day produced greater decreases in liver fat content, while there was a bigger increase of insulin sensitivity with the six-meal diet.

- Rent a dog. The lockdown in Moscow, Russia, is very strict. In fact, one of the only ways to go out is to walk your dog. Which is why some people are renting their neighbors’ dogs so they have a reason to get out. The going rate is a few bucks for a half hour.

- 13 Feet apart. After hearing the results of this new study, we might need to stand a lot further apart from each other than the currently recommended six feet. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that the coronavirus could remain suspended in the air as far as 13 feet from an infected patient. Publishing the results Friday in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, researchers taking samples in hospitals also found that COVID-19 could be carried that same distance, possibly through the shoes of ICU staff. And here's even more of a reminder to wash your hands: the highest concentrations of the virus were found on items that are touched often, including floors, doorknobs, bed rails, and trash cans. The CDC also says it tested medical staff shoes and found samples on half of them, meaning the soles of medical staff shoes might function as carriers.

- Each year on National Scrabble Day April 13th recognizes a game played around the world. Originally named Lexiko and then Criss-Cross Words, Alfred Mosher Butts eventually settled on the name Scrabble. The amateur artist and unemployed architect developed the word game in the midst of the depression. Still, it wasn’t until 1948, a final name change and a trademark that Butts finally began to produce the game.

- 25 min of exercise. Just 25 minutes of vigorous daily exercise can do wonders for you, and could help beat depression. Researchers (Methodist University in Dallas) found that a workout reduces stress and anger and boosts the sense of physical well being. And they claim physical exercise should be more widely prescribed as a treatment to tackle depressive or anxiety disorders.

- Tip double. What to tip in the coronavirus economy? If you can afford it, a hospitality expert says to double your normal tip for delivery drivers putting themselves in harm’s way. Paul Bagdan, a professor at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, said, “Go with your heart. It’s good karma, good for mankind.”

- Weight on asking women. Women were asked, “What’s the worst question any can ask you?” The winner by a wide margin: her weight.

- National Peach Cobbler Day on April 13th each year recognizes a delicious dessert that originated during the 19th century.

- The hardest age is 8. It’s safe to say that all moms and dads feel a heightened level of exhaust whether they’ve got toddlers or teens, but a new survey reveals that the “hateful eights” are arguably the worst age to deal with. In the survey parents also said that the age of six is much easier to handle, while seven-year-olds have the worst tantrums.

- On this day in 1796: The first elephant ever seen in the United States arrived from India.





Fun Fact:
The average amateur golfer has seven of these. (Clubs he/she never uses) #funfact




Matt's Musing:
My wife told me that I need to grow up. I was speechless! But it is kinda hard to talk with 45 Jelly Beans in your mouth... #musing



Matt's Pick Song:
“Stand By Me ” by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound



Bible Trivia Answer:
B. By a kiss (Luke 22:47& 48)

Radio Recap (Friday 04/10/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
Which of the twelve Apostles did not believe that Jesus was risen?
A. Thomas
B. Andrew
C. Simon Peter
D. John the Beloved



In The News:

- Good Friday

- Women Love their Pets. A survey show more than half of women (56 percent) feel that their pets are more affectionate than their partners, and 45 percent of women think their pets are cuter than their partners.

- Sight & Sound announced that JESUS will be made available for FREE in celebration of Easter! For three days only, you can experience the greatest rescue story of all time as it comes to life right in your living room. Exclusively available on TBN, it can be watched by downloading the TBN app, or stream it online. April 10-12 only!

- Most Tennis balls in a basket. An Idaho man teamed up with a friend during coronavirus lockdown to break the Guinness World Record for most tennis balls caught in a basket on the back in one minute. David Rush, who has broken more than 100 Guinness World Records, said he teamed up with "quarantine buddy" Jonathan Hannon to take on the record using a backpack basket purchased by Hannon's wife. Hannon used both hands to throw a total 108 tennis balls in the allotted minute and Rush managed to catch 85 of them, breaking the previous record of 66. Rush said the rules required him to remain at least 9 feet, 9 inches away from Hannon during the attempt. He said Guinness officials told him the rules requiring a certain number of witnesses were being relaxed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, provided ample video evidence was submitted.

- National Siblings Day (also referred to as Sibling Day) on April 10th each year honors our brothers and sisters. Siblings. They are sometimes our best friends or our worst enemies. At times, siblings will provide us with our biggest competition, strongest encouragement and remind us of our most embarrassing moments.

- Closed on Easter. It's just been announced that major chains Target, Lowe's, and Trader Joe's will be closed on Easter Sunday. The reasoning behind the closing is simply to give their employees a break after they've worked so hard during the coronavirus pandemic. Lowe's also announced that the over 300,000 employees won't lose pay or hours because of the closure.

Sprouts, Costco, and Sam's Club have also announced that they will be closed on Easter Sunday.

- In the Old Days, Pretzels Were Associated With Easter Why? Because the twists of this salty treat resemble arms crossing in prayer. We say it's time to bring back this savory snack to the sweets-filled holiday.

- Each year on April 10th, National Farm Animals Day focuses attention on the humane care of farm animals. The day also aims to find homes for abandoned and abused farm animals.

A variety of animals have been domesticated and raised on farms for food. They provide eggs, milk, cheese, meat, wool, leather, and other products. Most farmers raise their livestock responsibly.

- On this day in 1978: Volkswagen became the first non-American automobile manufacturer to build cars in the United States, opening a plant in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania.

- world's largest Rubik's cube. A British puzzle enthusiast recaptured his Guinness World Records title by building a Rubik's cube that measures 6 feet and 7 inches on each side.

Tony Fisher, who held the record for the world's largest Rubik's cube from 2016 until 2018, said his latest creation took about 330 hours to build. The result, a fully functional Rubik's cube that stands 6 feet, 7 inches tall, was enough to retake the record from the TELUS Spark science museum in Canada, which assembled a 5-foot, 6-inch Rubik's cube.

Fisher said his interest in puzzles began in 1980, when he received his first Rubik's cube at the age of 14. He made puzzle design his full-time job in 2010.




Fun Fact:
What flavor was the first Lifesaver? (Peppermint) #funfact




Matt's Musing:
A clean house... is the sign of a non-existent internet. #musing



Matt's Pick Song:
“He Touched Me” by the Gaither Vocal Band



Bible Trivia Answer:
A. Thomas (John 20:24-29)

Radio Recap (Thursday 04/09/20)

Bible Trivia Question:
After the resurrection of Jesus, what was found in the empty tomb?
A. a vase full of water
B. Jesus' burial clothes
C. a growing lily
D. The Holy grail




In The News:

- Last day of Lent

- National Name Yourself Day on April 9th each year proposes one day a year to reinvent our names. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to have a different name, this would be the day to find out. Whether you like your name or not, this day is about having fun with a different name. Actors get to try on new names all the time. While they’re at it, they also pretend to be another personality altogether.

- Masks on the ground. There is a sad new trend amid the coronavirus; throwing used gloves and used masks on the ground. The practice is horrible for a few reasons, #1 it is littering. #2 this puts essential workers life in jeopardy when they have to pick up the gloves and masks and possible come in contact with the virus. #3 if these items end up in the ocean it can now become an environmental risk. Parsippany, NJ is now charging and fining people up to $500 for the act. Yorktown, NY will charge and fine you up to $1,000 if you are caught discarding face masks and gloves on the ground.

- Sight & Sound announced that JESUS will be made available for FREE in celebration of Easter! For three days only, you can experience the greatest rescue story of all time as it comes to life right in your living room. Exclusively available on TBN, it can be watched by downloading the TBN app, or stream it online. April 10-12 only!

- First Names w/financial success _ When it comes to stocks and bonds, not all baby names are created equal. A quirky new piece of research has listed the top baby names for the future financial advisor of the family. The study concludes the most financially successful name for a boy is Andrew, while Anna came in at number one for girls. … For the research, the investment platform eToro analyzed its 12 million user database and highlighted the first names that performed the best and worst investment-wise over the past year. Don’t like the name Andrew for your son? Sam, Alex, Christopher, and Darren rounded out the top five best boy names for investment returns. For girls, Anna was followed by the names Maria, Laura, Helen, and Sarah. … What about names to avoid? The research also picked out the worst names for investment success. Moms and dads, be sure to steer clear of these boy names: Ali, Rob, Dan, Chris, and Dominic. Similarly, the worst baby names for girl investors are Karen, Claire, Lisa, Jennifer, and Rachel.

- National Unicorn Day on April 9th each year celebrates the mythical horse-like creature with a single, pointed horn growing from the center of its forehead.

_FunNy MEME

- Duke and Duchess virtual visit. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wowed schoolkids during a surprise virtual visit Wednesday. Prince William and wife Kate dropped in on a show-and-tell session by youngsters whose parents are out on the front line of the nation’s coronavirus battle.

- National Cherish an Antique Day encourages us to seek the deeper story behind treasures and family heirlooms. Observed annually on April 9th, the day reminds us that sometimes there is more to antiques than just a dollar sign.

- Women love to shop _ A survey suggests the amount of time a woman spends shopping during her lifetime adds up to more than eight years. Market research company OnePoll said its online survey of 2,000 women indicated the average woman will spend 25,184 hours and 53 minutes buying food, clothing and other items during a 63-year period. The survey suggests women make about 301 trips to various stores during one year, amounting to about 399 hours and 46 minutes, with groceries accounting for 84 of the shopping excursions, and 90 of the trips being attributable to clothing, shoes, accessories and health and beauty items.

- The Tokyo Olympic flame has been taken off public display in Japan. And it’s not clear when it will reappear again or where — or under what conditions. The flame arrived in Japan from Greece on March 26. After the Tokyo Olympics and the torch relay were postponed until next year, the flame was put on display in the northeastern prefecture of Fukushima. It was to remain on display through the end of April. It was removed after several days when Japan’s Prime Minister issued a state of emergency in order to combat the coronavirus, which includes limiting large crowds. … Organizers of the Summer Olympics said, “Tokyo 2020 will now keep the flame in an undisclosed location to prevent people from gathering.”




Fun Fact:
Forty-two percent of women say they can’t make this. (Spaghetti) #funfact




Matt's Musing:
If you get melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly... #musing






Bible Trivia Answer:
B. Jesus' burial clothes (John 20:3-7)

Radio Recap (Wednesday 04/08/20)

Bible Trivia Question:

What moved the stone away from the tomb?
A. the object moved itself
B. the 12 Apostles
C. the earthquake
D. an angel


In The News:

- National Zoo Lovers Day encourages us to explore our local zoos. Each year millions of people visit zoos and learn about the many animals that live there. Also known as zoological parks, many of them serve as breeding centers. However, with them closed due to COVID-19, some allow you to visit Virtually.

- Grow flowers. Looking for an extra mental boost this spring? If you’ve never tried planting a garden, you’re missing out on some surprising benefits beyond the home-grown salads. A study (Anglia Ruskin University) finds that gardening improves body image. Researchers found that people who garden have significantly higher levels of body appreciation, body pride, and appreciation for their body’s overall functionality.

- Closed on Easter. It's just been announced that major chains Target, Lowe's, and Trader Joe's will be closed on Easter Sunday. The reasoning behind the closing is simply to give their employees a break after they've worked so hard during the coronavirus pandemic. Lowe's also announced that the over 300,000 employees won't lose pay or hours because of the closure.

Sprouts, Costco, and Sam's Club have also announced that they will be closed on Easter Sunday.

- There’s a covid app for that. Want to know if you have coronavirus? Just cough at a microphone on your smartphone. It sounds silly but that’s the idea behind a new experimental app built by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University. With the help of artificial intelligence, the app analyzes the sound of your cough (assuming you have that symptom) and other vocalizations to determine whether or not you sound sick with COVID-19… Once you’re logged in you’re asked to cough three times and then do some regular speaking. This includes reading through the alphabet and holding vowel sounds until you run out of breath, giving the system an idea of your overall lung capacity. The app’s algorithms then crunch all your data and give you a score from 1 to 10. The higher your score, the closer your readings resemble someone who has COVID-19.… The app is obviously still early in its development and testing, and the team that built it is by no means suggesting that the results it produces should be used to diagnose a coronavirus infection in anyone.

- Nike Face Shields. When Nike was handed the opportunity to get involved in the country’s fight against coronavirus, there was only one way to respond — just do it. Nike announced its factories are pivoting to make full-face shields and powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) lenses to help healthcare workers in need. The company is repurposing collar-padding from shoes, cords from apparel, and the plastic used to make the brand’s signature Air soles to make the face shields… New Balance also got into the mask-making production last week with hopes of making 100,000 a week.

- Egg $ go Up. The price of eggs has exploded in the past several weeks, with the prices averaging $3.01 per dozen at the end of last week compared to the 94 cents per dozen they were selling for at the beginning of March. Supermarkets are ordering anywhere from four to six times their typical amount, but a key issue is that last year the egg producers lost money and actually shrank their flock. It takes up to five months to raise a hen to an age where you can get eggs, so there’s not a lot of incentive for farmers to react.

- Mayor’s wife caught at party. The mayor of a small city in Illinois warned citizens that he had ordered police to break up parties and issue citations to enforce the state’s stay-at-home orders that are meant to slow the coronavirus pandemic. But when the officers did so, they found his wife at one of the gatherings… On Monday, Alton, Illinois, Mayor Brant Walker issued a statement on Facebook saying police had found his wife at a bar in the city that was operating in violation of the governor’s stay-at-home orders. Walker said he was embarrassed and apologized to his constituents. He wrote: “My wife is an adult capable of making her own decisions, and in this instance she exhibited a stunning lack of judgement.” She will face “the same consequences for her ill-advised decision as the other individuals” caught at the event.

- CBS to show Iconic Movies. For five straight Sundays starting May 3, CBS will show iconic movies from its corporate sibling Paramount Pictures’ library, starting with Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. The network is filling the void left by shows that aren’t able to film due to COVID-19. … On May 10 CBS will show Forrest Gump, followed by Mission: Impossible on May 17, Titanic on May 24 and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade on May 31.



Fun Fact:
In a normal lifetime the average person will eat 200 pounds … Peanuts. #funfact


Matt's Musing:
Will skipping school to bungee jump… get you suspended? #musing



Matt's Pick Song:
“I Can’t Keep From Singing” by Sisters


Bible Trivia Answer:
D. an angel (Matthew 28:2)

Radio Recap (Tuesday 04/07/2020)

Bible Trivia Question:

What was placed in front of the door of the tomb to close it?
A. a blanket
B. a stone
C. a fence
D. a wall



In The News:

- National No Housework Day directs us to put down the cleaning solution and toss aside the laundry. For one day each year on April 7th, the housework can wait. Take a break from the sweeping, dusting and dishes. Dirty windows? They will wait one more day. The vacuum will remain banished to the closet. And mopping? Well, tomorrow it’s a date.

- ZSnacks. Some zooms can be long, so you gotta come prepared. After all, you don’t want to get a case of the hangries in the middle of an all-staff meeting, right? Which is why zoom pros — people who’ve been zooming from home for about three weeks now — recommend you come prepared with a znack… The key, according to veteran zoomers, is to prepare ahead of time a snack which can be popped in your mouth as you lean off-camera for about a second. Think grapes, M&Ms, or a sandwich that’s been cut into tiny, bite-sized pieces.

- Adopt a Grandparent. CHD Living, a chain of nursing homes in England, is making sure their self-isolated residents don’t get lonely due to the lack of visitors by launching a virtual version of its “Adopt a Grandparent” program. Before the coronavirus outbreak, CHD Living had a similar program in which they encouraged those who lived by the homes to come visit their residents. CHD Living — which includes 13 nursing homes in and around London — is inviting English speakers all over the globe to volunteer for the program, which mostly involves chatting with your adopted grandparent via video or phone call, sharing cheerful stories about your life, and/or mailing them letters, pictures, poems, or postcards.

- An Apple A Day. Put down your apple and grab a packet of chips. No, don’t. That would be too extreme. But a study addressing an old wives’ tale hasn’t come up apples for apples. Researchers (University of Michigan) said people who eat an apple a day are a little more likely to keep the doctor away, but once they adjusted for all the other differences the effect disappeared… There was one marked benefit for the apple-eaters: they were less likely to have needed prescription medication in the past year.

- National Coffee Cake Day. Coffee cake is a cake that is intended to be eaten while enjoying a cup of coffee, maybe for breakfast or during a coffee break. One may choose to serve this cake to guests around their coffee table.

- Obese Car Crash. A study (University of Virginia) found that obese people do not necessarily have an advantage in car accidents. The study was conducted to disprove the notion that “extra padding [helps] to protect people against severe trauma.” In fact, obese test subjects reportedly “had greater maximum forward pitch” and ran the risk of experiencing greater damage to their ribs and lungs.

- Gas for Nurses. As healthcare workers risk their lives to treat patients infected with the coronavirus, a Detroit man decided to use his $900 in savings to buy gas for nurses. Last Wednesday and Thursday, after dropping his wife at her job at Blue Cross Blue Shield, Allen Marshall stood outside the Exxon Express station along the route to Detroit Medical Center with a sign that read “FREE GAS FOR NURSES.” Michigan is one of the hardest-hit states in the US. Marshall bought gas for 50-80 people over the two days he spent at the Exxon.

- Women Love their Pets. A survey show more than half of women (56 percent) feel that their pets are more affectionate than their partners, and 45 percent of women think their pets are cuter than their partners.

- Masters Golf In November. The coronavirus pandemic has gutted the sports calendar, but fans celebrated on Monday when the Masters golf tournament announced its intention to reschedule for November 9-15.

- Disney+ releases. A press release from Disney+ France shows the release dates of the upcoming Marvel shows. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and WandaVision are still listed for this year. Loki and What If…? are listed under 2021. Meanwhile, Hawkeye, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, and Moon Knight are listed for 2022.

- Single-direction Shopping Lanes. Retail giants Walmart and Kroger are stepping up their coronavirus protection measures by testing one-way aisles at select locations across the U.S. The idea of the single-direction shopping lanes is simple: people moving in the same direction will have less contact with each other, says Walmart CEO Dacona Smith. "We expect this to help more customers avoid coming into close contact with others as they shop," Smith says. The move comes after Kroger on Tuesday began using a computer program called QueVision to limit the number of customers allowed in each store, says the company's chief technology officer, Yael Cosset. "By leveraging QueVision, our technology system that uses infrared sensors and predictive analytics, we will be able to more efficiently support our new capacity limits, creating a safer environment for our customers and associates."

- Virtual NFL Draft. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has told owners to prepare for this year's draft to be done in a "totally virtual format." The memo that Goddell sent out to teams comes shortly after this year's NFL Draft in Las Vegas had to be called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.





Fun Fact:
On average, children between the ages of two and seven do this 26 minutes every day… Color. #funfact




Matt's Musing:
When I learned that I couldn't be a gymnast, I was all bent out of shape… #musing



Matt's Pick Song:
“I Believe In A Hill Called Mount Calvary” by the Gaither Vocal Band



Bible Trivia Answer:
B. a stone (Matthew 27:66)