What another fast day! That's it for another Wednesday in the books. (Who thought of that phrase anyway) Join Carolina Country Cruizin' tomorrow with Matt. I'll be heading to court to take care of a ticket. I hope to be back tomorrow. Until then keep it Rolling on Wheelz 100.5!Rodney Atkins and the National Council for Adoption have teamed up to launch TheFamiliesForAll-dot-org, a website promoting quality foster care. He'll be appearing in public service announcements and taking part in a promotional radio and satellite television tour to raise awareness of the site and of issues facing kids in foster homes. Rodney, who was adopted as an infant, is the organization's national spokesperson.
Police in College Hill, Ohio, arrested a man for stealing 32 deodorant products from a Walgreens. Cops say Martin Steve Johnson entered the drug store Monday and transferred 18 sticks of Degree deodorant, 10 sticks of Axe deodorant and five bottles of Axe body spray from his shopping basket to his book bag before walking off. Officers caught up with Johnson behind a Chili’s restaurant and arrested him.
Bob Hickey has been playing golf for 50 years, but he never had a hole-in-one – until Thursday. Hickey, of Grayling, Michigan, used a 7-iron to score his first-ever ace on the 167-yard 10th hole at Marsh Ridge in Gaylord. To make the accomplishment even sweeter, Hickey used an 8-iron to ace the 147-yard 17th hole. According to Golf Digest, the odds of one player making two holes-in-one during the same round are 67 million to 1.
The mini-museum of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has a bizarre item on display – a monkey from Mars. The GBI’s crime lab museum has all of the normal stuff you would expect to see – an illegal moonshine still and the microscopic fibers that solved the 1981-82 Atlanta child murders. But packed in a glass jar are the preserved remains of a monkey that pranksters passed of as an alien 55 years ago in a UFO hoax that drew international headlines. Hoping to cash in on the UFO hysteria of the time, two barbers and a butcher took a dead monkey, lopped off its tail, removed its hair and added some green coloring to the carcass. They left the animal on an isolated road north of Atlanta
on July 8, 1953. Barbers Edward Watters and Tom Wilson, and butcher Arnold Payne stopped a police officer and gave him some wild story about aliens. Within hours the monkey business had spread around the world. Watters, Wilson and Payne eventually fessed up and Watters paid a $40 fine for obstructing a highway. It is unclear where they got the monkey.
The post office in Anchorage, Alaska, delivered a couple of mysteries to Teresa Childs recently. During a three-day span, Childs received two postcards from Italy addressed to James Jigliotti, who lived in the home more than 25 years ago. One postcard was dated March 9, 1982, while the other bore a 1982 postmark from Vatican City. Both carried stamps purchased with lira, which aren’t in circulation anymore, and both were from James’ mother, Olga Jigliotti. Meanwhile, Pam Wyrick, who lives in another house where the Jigliottis once lived, said she recently received postcards that James mailed to his parents from Atlanta in 1997 and 1998.
A letter lost in the postal system for nearly 60 years turned up in the mailbox of a Lawrence, Kansas, woman on Friday. The letter, postmarked November 11, 1948, was found by Xan Wedel in her mailbox. The letter never reached its destination – Ruth Willisten in Rockfall, Connecticut – but it took nearly 60 years for the letter to come back to the return address, where Wedel now lives. Stamped on the envelope was “Return to Sender” and “Found in supposedly empty equipment.” The letter details how the town was “in mourning” after Harry S. Truman beat Thomas E. Dewey for the presidency of the United States. The election would have taken place just days before the letter was
postmarked.
Talk about a bad boyfriend! An unidentified man led police on a chase Monday after officers tried to stop him for speeding. The man clipped a house and rammed a tree with his vehicle before jumping out and running away – leaving his very pregnant girlfriend behind. The man eventually showed up at police headquarters in Essex, Vermont, with his lawyer later in the day. He was cited for careless and negligent operation of a motor vehicle, attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and a probation violation. He was driving on a suspended license.
Miranda Lambert is tearing up the charts with her Top 10 single “Gunpowder & Lead.” Miranda says her success comes in large part from her loyal fans – something she truly appreciates.
Josh Turner will portray singer George Beverly Shea in “Billy: The Early Years,” a biopic based on the life of evangelist Billy Graham. Due out October 10th, the release date coincides with Graham’s 90th birthday. The movie chronicles Graham’s life through his decision to be a minister and the tumultuous decade that followed.
Alan Jackson and Trace Adkins will headline the fifth annual “American Freedom Festival,” scheduled for October 25th in Fairfax, Virginia. Also scheduled to appear are WWE wrestler John Bradshaw Layfield, actress Karri Turner and others. The event will benefit the American Freedom Foundation, an organization that raises money and awareness for various veterans’ organizations.
There was nothing funny about what happened to comedian Jerry Lewis at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas last week. Lewis was detained by police after screeners found an unloaded gun in his baggage on Friday. The 82-year-old comedian was headed to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to perform a one-man show when authorities found the .22-caliber gun. Lewis was cited for carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. The gun was registered to Lewis and he will have to attend a court hearing to get it back.
Cheech & Chong are back together and hitting the road for the “Hey, What’s That Smell?” tour. The trek is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Up in Smoke.” Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong teamed up from 1972 to 1985, releasing nine marijuana-powered comedy albums and eight movies. Just as they were beginning to talk about a reunion in 2003, Chong’s head shop was raided and he was charged with conspiracy to distribute drug paraphernalia across state lines. He served nine months in a federal prison and paid thousands in fines.
A woman has won a huge chunk of change on “The Price is Right” thanks to a rigged game. According to TMZ, the show’s Plinko game was rigged for a commercial so that a chip landed in the $10,000 slot. After the commercial was over, nobody reset the game. During the taping of the show, the woman dropped three chips in the $10,000 slot before producers realized what was going on. They immediately stopped taping and reset the game. When the woman was allowed to play again, she only won about $3,000. The show’s producers gave her the $30,000 on top of the money she won legit.
An earthquake rocked Southern California yesterday. The 5.4-magnitude quake was the strongest in the area in more than 10 years. Windows rattled and buildings swayed as people ran into the streets. The earthquake was felt from Los Angeles to San Diego, and as far east as Las Vegas, 230 miles away. Nearly 30 aftershocks followed, the largest a 3.8-magnitude. The earthquake was centered 29 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, near Chino Hills.
Delta has doubled the fee to check a second bag for domestic flights from $25 to $50. The move comes as high fuel prices continue to rock the airline industry. Delta announced a number of baggage fee increases on both domestic and international flights. The fee for a third checked bag went from $80 to $125 on domestic flights and from $150 to $200 on international flights. The airline also raised fees for bags that exceed the weight allowance. The changes will apply to tickets purchased on or after July 31st for travel on or after August 5th. First Class, Business Elite and Medallion customers will still be able to check up to three bags at no charge and customers on
International flights can check a first and second bag at no charge.
The city of Oakdale, California can officially call itself the "Cowboy Capital of the World." Both Oakdale and Stephenville, Texas, have laid claim to the name. Officials in both cities agreed one of them would get exclusive rights to the title for one year, based on which city sold more tickets in a fundraising raffle for the National Day of the American Cowboy. Oakdale sold 153 more tickets, with proceeds going to the Oakdale Cowboy Museum.
Someone in New Jersey is missing a large pet. The Camden County Animal Shelter says it is about to put a 44-pound cat up for adoption because they can't find its owner. Shelter officials say the cat was found without a collar in Voorhees. A worker at the shelter says he finds it hard to belive that the cat's owner hasn't noticed that such a fat cat is missing. The owner has until Saturday to claim the cat. "The Guinness Book Of World Records" reports the fattest cat ever lived in Australia and weighed in at 46 pounds. That cat died in the 1980s.
Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn are making plans for their upcoming Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony. Dr. Phil McGraw and his wife, Robin McGraw have been tapped to be the guest speakers for the event. The presentation, which is open to the public, will be held Monday across from Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard at 11: 30 a.m. Pacific Time. Brooks and Dunn join a list of country artists who also are represented on the walkway, including Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Buck Owens, Alabama, Reba McEntire, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, and Kenny Rogers.
Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush of Sugarland are celebrating this morning. The duo's "Love on the Inside" is making its debut at the top of the country charts, which is their first time entering the list at number one. In addition, the disc is coming in at number two on the all-genre "Billboard 200" chart, behind Billy Ray Cyrus' daughter Miley's "Breakout." Sales of "Love on the Inside" reached 314-thousand in its first week out. albums since its release last Tuesday. That is the most records sold in the first week of release for a country artist since The Eagles' "Long Road Out of Eden" came out last fall.
Craig Morgan sang about an International Harvester. Now he'll sing with the company's full support as they sponsor his tour, which kicks off tonight in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Dubbed "Craig Morgan Powered by Case IH...International Harvester. The Legend Rolls On," the trek includes 27 shows through the end of October. One additional show, a New Year's Eve party at Nashville's Wildhorse Saloon, is also billed as part of the tour.
Blake Shelton has a couple upcoming television appearances on the horizon. Friday he will be on NBC's "Today." Fans can also catch him on August 18th when he performs his hit single "Home" on CBS's "The Early Show."
James Otto has a song on the soundtrack of the movie "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2." The title track to Otto's album "Sunset Man" is on the compilation.
"Johnny Cash: The Man, His World, His Music" will get a special screening this week before it hits television. It can be seen at The Wash in Nashville on Saturday. The 1969 documentary, which focuses on Cash just after his "Folsom Prison" album, will debut on PBS on Tuesday.
Somebody stole thousands of dollars worth of bras from Victoria's Secret in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Police say a woman went into the store in Brookfield Square on Sunday and placed close to 120 bras of various sizes and varieties in a shopping bag before walking out. The woman vanished and got away with more than five-thousand-dollars worth of merchandise.
That's a wrap on a Wednesday and make sure to join Matt tomorrow. I hope to be back on Friday! Keep it Rolling with Wheelz 100.5!*Information from Premiere, Jones and Metro Networks*
Thanks again for joining Carolina Country Cruizin' with Matt and Dee! Come back tomorrow and Keep it Rolling on Wheelz 100.5!Sugarland stretched the boundaries of country music on their new album, Love on the Inside, by recording it old school-style, live in the studio, and by using a studio in Atlanta instead of Nashville. Kristian Bush explains, "What you're hearing is kind of the old-timey way... All the players are playing at the same time and Jen's singing. So it makes for a very exciting listen when you're listening to it. You're listening to a moment." Jennifer Nettles credits recording in their hometown for the album's energy. She says, "We were rested and relaxed and in our own beds every night, which is normally mutually exclusive in this job."
Both the standard and deluxe editions of Love on the Inside are in stores now. The disc features the hit single "All I Want to Do."
Each night at the close of her set on Brad Paisley's Paisley Party Tour, Jewel surprises the crowd by showing off a special talent -- yodeling. She taught herself the vocal gyrations as a child by mimicking her father. She says, "My parents had dinner shows when I was six years old in hotels. And my father yodeled as part of the act." Though her yodeling prowess didn't do much for her popularity in grade school, she says the crowd response now makes up for being laughed at as a kid. In fact, it's such a crowd pleaser that she even sells 'Got Yodel?' t-shirts at her shows.
Donald Trump has finally revealed the secret to styling his signature hairdo. The real estate mogul tells the "Sunday Telegraph of London" that he combs his hair when it's wet, then sprays it with hair spray to set it so it, quote, "doesn't get blown away by the wind." He said his styling tricks were no match for a recent trip to Scotland, where the winds there destroyed his coiffure. Trump also admitted that while he gets made fun of frequently for his hairstyle, he doesn't think it's that bad, adding, "and it is mine." He says some people want him to "comb it back," but he doesn't think NBC, the network behind his show "The Apprentice," would be happy about such a change.
Johnny Depp will reportedly star as the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton’s big screen adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland.” Depp has starred in six Burton films so far, including “Sweeney Todd” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The film will be shot in 3-D and released in 2010.
Kevin Costner, star of the upcoming political send-up Swing Vote, admits that's he pondered the futility of voting. He says, "A lot of us feel that it doesn't [matter] and I can't take myself out of that club. When you do the math you think, 'I don't matter.' I'm not going to sit here and try to say something other than that, but when you think collectively as a whole, when we don't participate, that's when we really matter. If we didn't participate, we've kind of found a way to the whole scheme fall down because our democracy depends on it."The movie is coming out this Friday!
A Texas consultant has concocted a plan to eliminate breast cancer by offering a hefty reward to the person(s) who discovers a cure. Mike Dewey says his daughters are at increased risk for developing the disease since his wife has breast cancer. He doesn’t have all of the cash now, but he has raised $22 million in pledges and $90,000 in donations through his nonprofit foundation. Some experts are critical, saying finding a cure depends on science, but others who are frustrated with the slow pace of research praise the plan as a bold move. Dewey launched the Web site www.deweyfoundation.org last year and offers other “Victory Project Awards” worth $1 billion each to anyone who cures diabetes – or creates a car capable of getting 150 miles per gallon.
Three naked men were robbed after women lured them to a Calimesa, California motel for some partying. The men told Riverside County sheriff's deputies they met three women in a Yucaipa park and rented a room. After taking off their clothes, sheriff's investigators said, four men entered the room and robbed them of about 80 dollars and fled. One of the victims ran from the motel room, leading to 9-1-1 calls about a nude man in the area.
A total solar eclipse will darken some of the Earth’s skies this Friday. The total blockage of the sun, which occurs when the moon’s dark inner shadow falls on parts of the Earth, can only be seen in mostly remote places: the northeastern edge of Canada, the tip of Greenland, parts of Russia, China and Mongolia. The northeastern part of Maine will see a tiny bit of the eclipse right at sunrise. The good news is that for those who can’t be there, it will be shown live on the Internet. The Web address is http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2008/TSE2008.htm
A Romanian immigrant has given birth to her 18th child in British Columbia. The lucky papa, Alexandru Ionce, said his 44-year-old wife Livia gave birth to Abigail last Tuesday. Their other 17 kids are between 20 months to 23 years old. They have 10 girls and eight boys.
Coffey was cut from Nashville Star last night after singing an impressive version of "Sweet Home Alabama." Though the judges felt he was full of charisma, they didn't think Coffey had the winning ingredients. Moving on to the finals next week is Shawn Mayer, who proved she has staying power with her performances of "Here for the Party" and "The Dance." Melissa Lawson also moves on after flawless renditions of "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" and "Jesus Take the Wheel." The always-consistent Gabe Garcia, who rounds out the three finalists, pleased the judges and the crowd with his versions of "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" and "Living in Fast Forward." Next week's finals will be broadcast at a new time, 10:00 p-m [ET].
Video Jug offers video of various skills to make life more easy. Organized into useful categories like Beauty and Style, DIY and Home, Food and Drink, and others, there is enough content here to keep you busy for weeks. From How To Make Your Own “James Bond” License Plates to How To Win At Arm Wrestling, this site has it all. www.videojug.com
Kenny Chesney’s annual concert in Foxboro, Massachusetts, resulted in a bit too much partying. Saturday’s show ended with 76 people arrested and two others killed in a car crash. Many of those arrested did not have tickets, police said. The fifth annual Chesney concert, held at Gillette Stadium with Keith Urban, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Allan and Sammy Hagar, sold out in 15 minutes.
The government warned consumers yesterday not to eat the soft, green stuff found in the body cavity of lobsters, because it may be contaminated with a toxin. While it’s still OK to eat the white lobster meat found in the claws and tails, the green stuff that most diners already avoid should definitely not be eaten. The FDA said that goo acts as the liver and pancreas of the lobster. An algae bloom from Northern New England to Canada this year has contaminated fishing grounds with high levels of toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning. The warning is for American lobster, also known as Maine lobster, which is harvested in Atlantic waters from Canada to South Carolina. Poisoning usually occurs within two hours and symptoms include tingling and numbness of the mouth, face or neck, muscle weakness, headache and nausea.
Jim Kinner has hundreds of spittoons, which he’s been collecting for years. Now the state of North Carolina is buying them to go in the Duke Homestead State Historic Site and Tobacco Museum in Durham. Kinner will get $6,000 for more than 250 spittoons. While Jim collects spittoons, he doesn’t use them. He says he’s never been a tobacco chewer.
Faith Hill is back on board to sing "Waiting All Day for Sunday Night," the opening theme for NBC's "Sunday Night Football." She describes the promo for the show as "one of the funniest things I have ever seen." It features NFL players preparing game-time snacks for Faith and her girlfriends. A preview of the video will be posted online Sunday at www.faithhill.com. In addition, Hank Williams Jr. will once again sing the opening theme for ESPN's "Monday Night Football," which is based on his song "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight." The first "Monday Night Football" game will air on ESPN on September 8th.
Taylor Swift has been awarded another distinction. She is the first country female artist to have five consecutive top five singles from a debut album.
Kenny Chesney will join Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young and Dave Matthews at this year's Farm Aid show in Mansfield, Massachusetts on September 20th. This will be the first time the concert to benefit America's farmers is held in New England and the second time Kenny makes an appearance. He says, "If I can help be a part of that, whether it's raising money or awareness, or just letting those family farmers know someone knows and cares, well, that's why I'm going to Boston. It's a small thing, but a big deal." Kenny has a lot of fans in New England. This past weekend he filled Gillette Stadium -- home of the New England Patriots -- to capacity. During the show, some members of the Red Sox and Patriots joined Kenny on stage for two songs -- "Back Where I Come From" and "You Never Even Called Me by My Name."
Trace Adkins will release the first single from his upcoming album next Monday. “Muddy Water” follows his No. 1 single “You’re Gonna Miss This.” “Muddy Water” is featured on Adkins’ soon-to-betitled album, which drops November 25th.
Brooks and Dunn think about quitting at least once a year. Kix Brooks tells Phoenix's Arizona Republic, "Every year, at the end of the tour, we're both ready to quit. But within two weeks, the text messages start going back and forth -- 'I've got an idea about this song' and 'Here's an idea for a new set.' So any feelings of quitting don't last long." After 17 years together, Kix says that he and partner Ronnie Dunn have never had a blow-up -- something he attributes to being older when success came for them.
Ryan Seacrest was bitten by a wild beast over the weekend. Not Simon Cowell -- a shark! Seacrest says a little bitty shark -- about the size of a cat -- left three holes in one of his toes after chomping on him during a dip in the Pacific Ocean.
A six-legged deer found in Athens, Georgia, after being attacked by a dog has a new home. A woman with a permit to keep unique animals in captivity has agreed to take in the deer, which was found on July 18th near Armuchee. Berry College animal science professor George Gallagher took the deer after it had surgery on minor injuries sustained in the attack. He’s hoping to avoid making the deer a “circus sideshow.” The fawn has two complete pelvises and two tails. One of the tails had to be amputated.
Flint, Michigan, is hoping to cover the $420,000 cost of 14 surveillance cameras by getting businesses and individuals to sponsor them. Flint and private security firm Asset Protection Specialists are looking for anyone willing to pay $30,000 to have their name(s) or corporate logos on one of the pole-mounted cameras. So far, no luck.
Tomorrow is another Hump Day! Remember to tune in and keep it rolling with Wheelz 100.5!
*Information from Preimer, Jones and Metro Networks*
Thanks so much for hanging out and starting your week with Carolina Country Cruizin' with Matt and Dee and remember to always keep it rolling on Wheelz 100.5!A big Happy Birthday and thank you for all you do to Matt Scurry. On the air today Matt was showered with gifts and a bunch of us got together to sing Matt Happy Birthday or at least that’s what we are calling it!
Happy Birthday Matt and we wish you many more!!!!
A 'Billion' is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective...A billion seconds ago it was 1959A billion minutes ago Jesus was aliveA billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone AgeA billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feetAnd at the rate our government is spending it... A billion dollars was only 8 hours and 20 minutes ago!There's some strange happenings going on in Milford, Massachusetts. Someone is dumping pairs of pantyhose at children's bus stops around a neighborhood there. One resident says they picked up 43 pairs in one day, that had been left around the area by the person they have dubbed the "Pantyhose Bandit." According to police, who say they have a person of interest in the case, the only crime in the matter is littering. He also says that the police department doesn't have the resources to launch a full investigation over pantyhose.You might say only in New York at this one. A naked dining club has been founded in the Big Apple. Organizer John Ordover tells the "New York Post" that the group of about 50, which rents out city restaurants for their monthly in-the-nude meals, are "not out to shock or put on a public spectacle." He says they just want to, quote, "do things that other people do in the way that we are most comfortable doing them. That, for us, is without clothes." He also says that a restaurant has never refused the naked dining club. Wait staff is required to wear clothes while serving the nude diners, due to city law.If kids could change one thing about the world, what do you think they would change? According to National Geographic Kids, here are the top 3 things kids would change:
1. Save the environment (44%)
2. End wars (21%) 3. Cure disease (14%)
How far would you drive to save 20 cents on a gallon of gas? According to RBC Capital Markets,
43% wouldn’t drive any more than 5 miles.
· 37% would drive 5 to 10 miles.
· 12% would drive 10 to 15 miles.
· 5% would drive 15 to 20 miles.
· 3% would drive more than 20 miles to save 20 cents on a gallon of gas. Unfortunately, it would cost them around $4 to save 20 cents.Lower gas prices appear to be on the horizon. Triple-A says prices at the pump have fallen ten-cents in a week, and could be down another 25-cents by Labor Day. Prices are keeping pace with the plummeting price of oil, which has fallen at a record pace. Triple-A spokesman Geoff Sundtrom credits a drop in demand from U.S. consumers, and as long as oil prices don't rebound, gas will be cheaper. The average price per gallon has fallen below the four-dollar mark, but that's still more than a dollar higher than a year ago.New York’s Naked Cowboy says California cops didn’t recognize him when they nabbed him for singing in his briefs in a public plaza. Robert Burck, known as the Naked Cowboy for playing a guitar in New York’s Times Square in his underwear and a cowboy hat, was taken into custody Friday in San Francisco. Burck said the officers didn’t realize who he was at first and made fun of his skimpy outfit. Burck was cited for “violating a posted sign” and is set to appear in court today.
Jeff Hornagold loved being a UPS driver. So when the suburban Chicagoan died last week of lung cancer, longtime co-worker Michael McGowan agreed to take him on one last delivery. McGowan transported Hornagold’s body from Davenport Family Funeral Home to Saturday’s funeral services in his UPS truck. Mike says he plans to keep a picture of Hornagold in his truck until he retires so that they can keep riding together. Hornagold was a UPS driver for 20 years, and his wife Judy says the special delivery was the perfect tribute.
Roto-Rooter came to the rescue of an unlucky black kitten that got stuck in an outdoor drainage pipe near Cleveland. Roto-Rooter was called Friday by workers at an Ohio firm after someone spotted the kitten. Other agencies either declined to help or didn’t answer their phones. A Roto-Rooter crew used a drain snake equipped with a remote camera to rescue the kitty, which took six hours. The kitten was examined by a vet and then taken home by one of the rescuers, who plans to name the kitten “Roto.”
Talk about a run of bad luck! Authorities in Levy County, Florida, say a man accidentally shot his wife while trying to hit a fox that had attacked her. The couple told deputies they spotted an animal in their yard Friday morning and went outside to see what it was. The fox bit the woman on the left leg and wouldn’t let go, so she told her husband to get the gun. He fired a .22-caliber rifle seven times, killing the animal – but also hitting his wife in the right leg. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.“The Dark Knight” continues to obliterate box office records, crossing the $300 million mark in just 10 days. The epic Batman saga grossed $75.6 million in its second weekend in theaters, pushing its domestic total to $314.245 million. That surpasses the previous record set in 2006 by “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” which took 16 days to make $300 million. “Dark Knight” had already broken records for best opening weekend at $158.4 million and best single-day with $66.4 million. The movie is expected to reach $400 million in 18 days, which would shatter the record “Shrek 2” set
in 2004 when it made that much money in 43 days. The Batman film could even pass “Titanic” as the highest-grossing film in U.S. history, says Media By Numbers. The 1997 film made $600.788 million domestically, a record no other movie has come close to touching.
1. “The Dark Knight” $75.63 million
2. “Step Brothers” $30 million
3. “Mamma Mia!” $17.9 million
4. “The X-Files: I Want To Believe” $10.2 million
5. “Journey To The Center Of The Earth” $9.4 millionA 57-year-old Milwaukee man who might have been struggling with a hangover has been charged with shooting his lawn mower with a sawed-off shotgun. A criminal complaint quotes an apparently inebriated Keith Walendowski saying, "I'll tell you the truth. I got pissed because my lawn mower wouldn't start, so I got my shotgun and shot it. I can do that. It's my lawn mower and my yard, so I can shoot it if I want." Walendowski was charged with a felony count of possessing a short-barreled shotgun and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct while armed. If convicted of both charges, he faces up to six years and nine months in prison.Brad Paisley can certainly pick great opening acts. His openers have included Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler and Taylor Swift, who've all gone on to huge success. He tells North Carolina's Charlotte Observer, "I'm not Nostradamus. Anybody could've looked at them and known that they were going to be great."
The new line of l.e.i. jeans that Taylor Swift is promoting is now available at Wal-Mart. Fans can visit www.leijeans.com for exclusive Taylor photos and a free download of her latest hit "Should've Said No." In addition, Taylor was also recently featured in a piece for the 4-H Network News, along with Jack Ingram.
Sugarland release Love on the Inside today
Jewel has more to her artistry than her music. The singer is a published writer and a painter. Fans can now purchase select pieces of her artwork at The Entertainer's Gallery, at www.entertainersartgallery.com.
Real-life couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert will hit the road together for a handful of dates this fall. Blake tells Cincinnati's Toledo Blade, "Miranda and I have been kicking around doing a tour together. We finally decided to do it, and we're going to do it this fall
Madonna and Guy Ritchie are reportedly getting re-married. To each other. As the divorce rumors increase, the Material Girl and her immaterial director hubby are reportedly going to renew their wedding vows in a Kabbalah ceremony in England next month. Two rabbis are reportedly winging in from New York City to re-wed the decidedly un-Jewish twosome.
Toby Keith will be hitting the small screen in the coming weeks to promote his upcoming movie "Beer For My Horses." Keith will be on "The Colbert Report" today, marking his third time as a guest on the Comedy Central show. On Wednesday Toby will give an interview and perform on CBS' "The Early Show," then visit Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends" and several other shows. On Thursday Keith will be on ABC's "The View," where he will perform and chat with the women about the movie. Next Monday he'll tape a segment for CBS' "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" that will air on August 8th -- the day the movie hits theaters. On August 5th he'll appear on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno." "Beer For My Horses," which pays homage to the "Smokey and the Bandit" films, stars Keith and comedian Rodney Carrington as sheriff's deputies chasing a drug lord and kidnapper. The movie soundtrack will arrive in stores on August 12th.Taylor Swift is now officially a high school graduate. The singer recently received her diploma by mail. Swift attended ninth and tenth grades at Hendersonville High School. After her career began to take off she enrolled in Aaron Academy, a private Christian school which offers home schooling. Making the switch allowed Taylor to be on the road for concerts and meet-and-greets while continuing her education.Billy Ray Cyrus gets to show off his fishing abilities in the upcoming USA Network movie "Bait Shop." Cyrus joins Bill Engvall in the film, which pits the two against each other in a fishing tournament. Engvall portrays Bill Dugan, the owner of a small bait shop who's at risk of losing the business because he doesn't have the money to make an upcoming balloon payment that's coming due. Cyrus' character, Hot Rod Johnson, believes he'll be able to buy the shop because of Dugan's financial situation. Dugan gets talked into entering the tournament in order to win the grand prize and pay off the note. While Dugan favors the old-fashioned kind of fishing, without the use of modern technology like GPS and chart-plotters, Hot Rod is all for anything that will allow him to win the tournament. Engvall co-wrote the script with comedian Tom Ryan. The movie airs on USA on August 9th. "Bait Shop" is slated for DVD release in September.Today is the 75th anniversary of the Singing Telegram, something that's special to Keith Anderson. Before he found success as a songwriter and performer, Anderson says he and a couple friends had a singing telegram business in Dallas called Romeo Cowboys. The endeavor was also a success, but the company shut down once Anderson started making headway with his country music career. Now people who still deliver singing telegrams could get requests for Anderson's current single, "I Still Miss You," which is in the top ten and climbing on the country singles charts. Keith's upcoming album "C'Mon!" will be in stores August 5th.Britney Spears and Kevin Federline finalized their child-custody settlement on Friday, with K-Fed getting a five-thousand-dollar-a-month boost in child support from the troubled pop tart. Federline will now receive 20-thousand dollars a month to care for two-year-old Sean and year-old Jayden. Spears will also fork over a one-time payment of a quarter-of-a-million dollars to Federline's attorneys. 
Thanks for Kicking your week off with us. Join Carolina Country Cruizin' tomorrow morning but in the mean time keep it rolling with Wheelz 100.5!*Information from Premiere, Jones and Metro Network*
That's it for this week! Have a wonderful weekend and as always remember to keep it rolling with Wheelz 100.5!
Fitness fanatic Richard Simmons wants America's kids to get physical, and is threatening to take up public office to see his vision through. Simmons exercised Congressional ears Thursday, speaking about his new project to prevent childhood obesity. The flamboyant aerobic personality traded in his famous short shorts and tank top attire for a conservative dark suit while speaking before the House Education and Labor committee, though he did tell reporters that he was wearing his shorts underneath his suit.A pet rabbit is credited with saving a couple from a fire that swept through their home in Melbourne, Australia. Officials said the husband returned home from the night shift early Thursday and heard the family pet, named “Rabbit,” scratching at the couple’s bedroom door after he had gone to bed. The man discovered a fire in a back room and smoke spreading through the house. He was able to escape the house with his wife unharmed.A New Zealand Judge ordered that a 9-year-old girl named Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii be given a new – and less insane – name. The judge made the girl a ward of the court so that her name could be changed. The new name was not made public to protect the girl’s privacy. Other crazy names submitted to New Zealand Name Registration Officials include Fish and Chips, Violence, Yeah Detroit and Sex Fruit.
After catching one of two people wanted in a series of break-ins, deputies in Catawba County, North Carolina, let their fingers do the chasing to catch the second suspect. When deputies caught a 16- year-old suspect, they confiscated his cell phone. While they had it, a text message came across asking him if he had been caught. The deputies responded “no,” and after a few more messages, the sender said he would try to pick up his partner. While waiting in an area where several break-ins occurred, deputies arrested the 17-year-old after finding him in a car with three other people. Both
teens face several charges, including larceny and breaking and entering.
If you vote by mail, but die before Election Day, does your vote count? It depends on where you lived. Oregon counts ballots no matter what happens to the voter. So does Florida. But in South Dakota, if you die before the election, so does your vote. With mail-in ballots becoming more popular, the question of whether your vote counts if you die after voting but before the election is being moved to the front burner. Laws in at least a dozen states are evenly split between tallying and dumping the votes.
About 2 million Americans got a raise yesterday as the federal minimum wage rose 70 cents to $6.55. Unfortunately, the raise is already gone – thanks to higher food and gas prices. The increase, from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour, is the second of three annual increases required by a 2007 law. Next year’s boost will bring the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. Twenty-three states and D.C. have laws making the minimum wage higher than the federal requirement, a group covering 60% of U.S. workers.
A South Carolina woman's attempt to seek treatment for alcohol addiction landed her in jail. According to the "Myrtle Beach Sun News," 23-year-old Michelle Massey was arrested recently for leading officers on a 15-mile chase. Authorities say Massey was seen speeding near the Myrtle Beach area, and cops began to follow her. When she finally stopped her car, Massey reportedly got out of her car and screamed that she was late for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Massey is being held on eleven-hundred-28-dollars bail.More and more people carry their laptops with them these days so it should come as no surprise that many of them are lost. A survey by Ponemon Institute found that airports are one of the places where people often misplace their computers. The institute reports that more than ten-thousand laptops are misplaced in the 36 largest airports in the U.S. every week. Nearly 70 percent of those laptops are never claimed by their owners. The areas most likely to lose a laptop are security checkpoints, departure areas and passenger clubs or lounges. Among the business travelers who take their laptops with them, 53 percent say they have confidential information on them. Among those travelers, 65 percent say they do not take any measures to secure the information that is contained on their laptop.
A Georgia man now knows that breaking off a planned wedding can be a costly proposition. RoseMary Shell filed suit against Wayne Gibbs for breaking off their engagement and won the case in a court of law. Shell left an 81-thousand-dollar a year job in Florida where the two got engaged in 2006. She moved to Gainesville, Georgia where Gibbs lived but he later changed his mind. Shell says he left a note for her in their bathroom a few months later saying he had cold feet and called the wedding off. Shell is now making 31-thousand-dollars a year and sued Gibbs with a jury ruling in her favor after three hours of deliberations. Gibbs was ordered to pay he 150-thousand-dollars.
A 5-year-old boy slipped out of his child care center unnoticed Tuesday afternoon. The boy crossed two busy streets and wandered into a Hooters restaurant. Employees at Hooters in Denton, Texas, found the child after he crossed an Interstate service road, bought a soft drink at a service station and walked to the restaurant. An employee found him in the parking lot and called police. Deborah Pugh, who owns the child care business, said the boy asked to go to the bathroom and then slipped out a fire exit door, which must, by law, remain unlocked.
Picking up hitchhikers can be risky, but one in Pennsylvania was a bird of a different feather. Jerry Dimick and a friend were driving near Clarks Summit on Wednesday when they spotted a peacock standing by the edge of the road. Dimick said he stopped and “went ‘smooch, smooch, smooch, smooch’ and the bird came over,” so he “reached out and grabbed him.” With no room in the back of his truck, Dimick put the peacock in the front seat. “The bird was sitting in between the two of us,” Jerry said. Dimick took the bird to his home in Taylor and is trying to find it a safe place to live.AskMen.com has unveiled the results from its Great Male Survey. More than 70,000 readers took the survey, which was broken down into five sections: Lifestyle, Dating, Sexuality, Power & Money and Men. The survey contained over 150 questions. You can view the full results at www.AskMen.com. Highlights include:
· 60% of men are nostalgic for the days when a handshake in business meant something.
· 77% of men look for girlfriends with “wife potential.”
· 69% of men would never cheat on their partner.
· 57% of men cook at home and enjoying doing it.
· 56% of men said that being a good father or husband makes a man “manly.”
AskMen.com also partnered with Yahoo! Shine to ask readers to help define the modern day woman. Those findings include:
· 20% of women admitted to having had more than 15 sex partners; only 17% of males have had more than 15 partners.
· 34% of female respondents said they would not change a thing about their lovers, while only 17% of men said the same.
· 23% of females are completely satisfied with their sex lives, versus only 14% of males.
· Only 17% of the female respondents have lied to a partner about their sexual experiences, while 31% of men have lied.Billy Ray Cyrus certainly has a popular daughter. "InStyle" reports that Miley Cyrus fans began lining up yesterday outside NBC's studios to see her performance this morning on "Today."
Jessica Simpson was recently in New York to film a T-V commercial for Macy's department stores. E-Online reports that in addition to Jessica, Martha Stewart, Kenneth Cole and Tommy Hilfiger will be featured in the spots, which were filmed on a set in Brooklyn. The commercial is expected to air around the holidays
Craig Morgan's as-yet-untitled upcoming C-D will hit stores on October 7th. He says the project isn't a huge departure from his previous releases. Craig tells us, "I've got another song on this record called 'Sticks' that's just like 'Redneck Yacht Club' and 'International Harvester,' and I've got my current single, 'Love Remembers,' that's kinda like 'I Got You.' There's a lot of that same stuff I just feel like we've done it better."
Trace Adkins will head overseas in September to entertain U-S troops in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan. This will be Trace's second U-S-O tour -- his first was in 2002 when he spent Thanksgiving performing for our soldiers in Southwest Asia.
Matt LeBlanc thinks the former business manager suing him for breach of contract is nuts -- seriously. The former Friends star has filed a motion seeking a court-ordered mental examination of Camille Cerio, who claims that LeBlanc stiffed her out of a million dollars in commissions from his work on Friends and Joey. Matt's lawyer has an answer if Cerio objects -- he says she brought her own mental state into play by claiming she was under "mental duress" when she signed a 1995 termination agreement with the actor.
Brooke Hogan is apologizing for making public allegations that her father Hulk abused her mother. “I did it under significant pressure from my mother,” Hogan said. “It was only after I learned all the facts that I realized I made a big mistake.” Brooke is now living with her father and is not on speaking terms with her mother. Meanwhile, Brooke is reportedly considering baring all for Playboy. She’s confirmed the mag has approached her but her rep says, “No decision has been made at this time.”Get ready for the release of the “Beer for My Horses” soundtrack on August 12th. Toby Keith’s new film, a comedy with Keith and Rodney Carrington playing sheriff’s deputies attempting to capture two criminals, is set for release on August 8th.
Reba McEntire is hosting a new show. “Toddling Toward Reading” looks at the critical years before kindergarten and what educators are doing to get toddlers reading. The show will begin airing on PBS in September.
Trace Adkins’ new single “Muddy Water” will be released August 4th. Adkins is also booked for three appearances at the Grand Ole Opry this summer. He’s slated to play there July 29th, August 12th, and August 23rd.
Not only did Randy Travis release his first new country album in eight years on July 15th, but he made a little personal history too. Travis hit the Country charts at No. 3 with “Around the Bend,” making his new album release his highest selling first week ever. To promote his release, Travis has been hitting the television scene hard. Travis recently launched his new fan club, Randy’s Ranch, at www.randytravis.com.
Chris Cagle has been found innocent of domestic violence charges stemming from an altercation with girlfriend Jennifer Tant in May. A court hearing and trial were held yesterday (Thursday) in Nashville. Chris's attorney, Bill Ramsey, said, "It's a shame these charges were ever brought... Chris is relieved the accuracy of the matter has been revealed and the ordeal is over."
Neal McCoy, who's nearing his 50th birthday, isn't as crazy on stage as he once was. He tells Ohio's Toledo Blade, "I don't climb anything anymore. I'm too old." Perhaps he's channeling that energy into his home life. He tells us, "My wife and kids would be the first ones to tell you that I work, whether that's folding clothes or mowing the yard or taking care of the house. I'm always doing something... Yet I need to pull back off, and I'm starting to see that." The lanky country star is on the road supporting his hit single "Rednectified."This new Web site can help you locate a cruise themed on whatever interests you. There are cruises dedicated to golf, cruises about religion, and cruises featuring performances and concerts from rock to country and gospel. The ThemeCruiseFinder.com site lists more than 570 cruises, searchable by type of cruise. www.themecruisefinder.com
New movies
“Step Brothers” (Wide) (R)
Stars Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Adam Scott, Mary Steenburgen and Kathryn Hahn.
“The X-Files: I Want to Believe” (Wide) (PG-13)
Stars David Duchovny, Gilliam Anderson, Xzibit, Amanda Peet and Billy Connolly.
Have a wonderful weekend and join Carolina Country Cruizin' on Monday morning. Remember keep it rolling all weekend long on Wheelz 100.5!*Information from Preimer, Jones and Metro networks*
So we made it through another Thursday and Friday is the offical kick off to the weekend so make sure to tune in tomorrow for your chance to win and have lots of fun starting your mornings off with Carolina Country Cruizin with Matt and Dee. Just in case you missed out this morning here's what we talked about:The trivia questions for TV Trivia really stumped everyone but we finally got a winner. Stump your co-workers today by asking them one of these questions:
What was the name of the American Pilot Wonder Woman fell in love with when he crashed on Paradise Island? *Steve Trevor
Or
Which of Woman Woman’s Accessories allowed her to breathe in outerspace? * EaringsMindy McCready has entered a Tennessee rehab facility for undisclosed reasons. People-dot-com reports that Mindy was brought to the emergency room and admitted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville on July 16th. Regarding her admission to rehab, her representative says, "Other issues made it prudent for her to seek longer-term and broader-based treatment." Heather Locklear has left from the Arizona facility where she was being treated for anxiety and depression for the past month. Heather's feeling really great." Boyfriend Jack Wagner paid two visits to the treatment center, and ex-husband Richie Sambora took care of their 10-year-old daughter, Ava. Kid Rock has pleaded no contest to one count of simple battery for a fight he took part in at a Georgia restaurant. He was sentenced to a year's probation, fined a thousand dollars, and ordered to take six hours of anger-management counseling and 80 hours of community service.She has lingerie, shoes and a signature fragrance about to launch, Jessica Simpson is expanding her fashion empire to include dresses. She just inked an agreement with an apparel company to roll out a contemporary collection of dresses under her own name. Expect the Jessica Simpson line to be in retail outlets in the fall of 2009.Randy Owen is one proud dad. He and his wife Kelly watched last week while their youngest daughter, Randa, took honors with her Hereford, Purple Clover L25T. The cow was the champion in the "Horned Owned Heifer" category at the 2008 Junior National Hereford Expo in Kansas City.
Two 14-week-old bald eagles named by Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus were released into the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. The birds, named Tennessee and Hope, were hatched earlier this spring at the United States Eagle Center in Dollywood theme park.Craig Morgan now has his third place trophy for the Mid-South Hare Scrambles Series motorcycle race. He received his award Sunday night in a ceremony at the Wildhorse in Nashville. Meanwhile, Morgan’s new CD will be out October 7th. Craig left Broken Bow Records and just finished his new album on BNA. “Love Remembers” is the first single off the as-yet-untitled CD.Gretchen Wilson's new single, "Don't Do Me No Good," can be downloaded from iTunes. The singer's also offering two concert tickets and meet-and-greet passes to her shows in Las Vegas, Nevada in December through a new fan club contest. Details are available online at her website, www.gretchenwilson.comWill Ferrell and pal John C. Reilly play bickering bros in the comedy Step Brothers, which opens on Friday. They did their own stunts, and took some hard hits for a fight sequence. Ferrell recalls, "We got pretty banged up. A lot of the fight was done within the first two weeks of filming. It was two weeks of straight fighting to start a movie, which we've never done. It was all action. It was pretty physical."Seth Meyers has directed and stars in “The Line,” an original comedy Web series to debut on Crackle.com. The seven-episode series co-stars Bill Hader and Simon Rich, who, along with Meyers, are “Saturday Night Live” players. The Web series is about two friends as they score the coveted first spot in line outside of a movie theater, 11 days prior to the world premiere of one of the summer’s most highly anticipated films.
A woman walking her two dogs in rural Southern California was attacked by a bear, but managed to escape and drive to a fire station for help. The woman suffered severe cuts and bruises in Tuesday’s attack. She was taking her dogs for a walk near the community of Caliente, east of Bakersfield. Her dogs escaped death, but one suffered minor injuries.
There are nights when the drive-through speaker is so loud it wakes up John and Patricia Andersen from their slumber. "Welcome to McDonald's, can I help you?" Patricia said, reciting the greeting she has come to loathe. Then come the orders, each recited back to the driver at decibel levels the Andersens say are indecent for the sleeping neighborhood. Big Macs, McNuggets, Quarter Pounders, McRibs. It's been this way for years, since the McDonald's opened three doors down from their Chicago home. Patricia says, "There are nights we like to keep the windows open. We can't even sleep. They repeat [the order] back. There's this one girl, she shouts into it. I can hear the whole order. It's crazy." John Andersen said he has asked the restaurant's managers repeatedly to turn down the volume. On several occasions, the manager told him to call the police, and he did. John said it was late and he never saw if officers arrived.Need to remember to get things done? Just create a Ping, set a date, and you’ll receive a reminder by e-mail or text message to your phone. Sign up is quick and the service is free. www.gopingme.com
Jesus Face In A Stick Of Cheese
Item number: 220259832500
Bidding ends: July 27th
With 6 bids, current bid at press time; $1.82
Item location: US, United States
Seller says: “I bought this package of cheese sticks last week. Took one out and just about to open it, I spotted a face. I turned it over, another face. Take a look for yourself. Its him!!!!!!!!! The One the Only!!!! How could I eat such a wonderful thing? So I put it back in the fridge (unopened) and I am now passing this on to you. This is so amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!”
George Clooney is Hollywood’s top bachelor, according to a new poll by the celebrity news show “The Insider.” The top 10 are:
1. George Clooney 6. Jamie Foxx
2. Leonardo DiCaprio 7. Owen Wilson
3. Matthew McConaughey 8. Orlando Bloom
4. Ryan Seacrest 9. Bruce Willis
5. Vince Vaughn 10. John Mayer
Officials in Gilbert, Arizona, are hoping to boost worker morale by reinstating a $7,000 program to give town employees free movie passes on their birthdays. Gilbert’s 1,200 workers will be given a free movie pass and certificate acknowledging their birthdays after the town council decided Tuesday to keep the program. Gilbert officials said worker moral problems began surfacing amid budget cuts.
The last thing a hospital patient wants to see while facing surgery are vultures perched outside his or her window. Patients at the Orthopedic Hospital in Glendale, Wisconsin, about to go under the knife can watch up to six turkey vultures sitting on ledges of the three-story building. The birds have long been associated with death, but doctors say their patients aren’t taking it too seriously because not too many people die at the hospital, which deals with sports injuries more than life-threatening illnesses. Still, the birds cause a lot of conversation, hospital officials said.A Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was stolen nearly 34 years ago in Rhode Island has surfaced in central New Jersey. The 1971 Sportster was purchased on eBay for $2,400 by Michael Meistrell of Cranford, New Jersey. Meistrell learned it was stolen on Halloween 1974 in Providence, Rhode Island, after he contacted Harley-Davidson for more information about the vehicle. Officials say Meistrell and several other prior owners never realized the motorcycle was stolen, including the man who recently sold it. eBay will reimburse Meistrell under its policy protecting those who inadvertently buy stolen vehicles. The original owner is being traced and no arrests have been made.Police arrested a Sandy, Utah, man who allegedly pulled a handgun on a teenage driver who asked if he had any “Grey Poupon.” Investigators said the 22-year-old man was incensed at the request for Dijon mustard, a reference to an old commercial for the product, and pulled a black handgun from his glove compartment. The three teens in the other car said the man cocked the weapon, pointed it at them, and said: “Here’s your Grey Poupon.” One of the car’s occupants took down the man’s license plate number and the suspect admitted to the incident when confronted by officers. The man was charged with a third-degree felony count of aggravated assault.
Thanks so much for hanging out with us and for visiting our blog! Join us tomorrow mornings starting at 5:30am until 10am. And as always keep it rolling with Wheelz 100.5!
*Information from Preimer, Jones and Metro networks*
So Wednesday has come and gone for Carolina Country Cruizin' with Matt and Dee and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for joining us. If you missed this mornings show here's what we talked about:This morning was an exciting start! I woke up and did my normal get up and get ready and let my dog out before leaving and during the process I ended up finding a snake on my front step. I went to get my gun and as I took the safety off I realized it was 4:30 in the morning and I would draw attention to myself so I grabbed a broom to move it and found it had a big black with white spots slimy toad in its mouth. As I tried to move it off my steps it turned and went into snake attack mode. This of course got me upset because this is my steps and it is causing me to be late for work. I poked at it again and then it started to slither under my 4 Runner so I had to move it away from that direction. I’m looking for something to kill this thing with and thank God there was a shovel leaning up against the house so I grabbed it. As I raised it up to do what my daddy taught me, cut its head off. I was shaking as I said please God let me get this on the first try. God answered my prayers this morning. The copperhead is now headless and waiting in my yard for me to bury it when I get home. I just hope my Jenny didn’t get bit in the process of letting her out this morning. I’m pretty sure that because I found the snake had the toad in its mouth she will be okay. Thanks for all calls and your support with my first hands on kill of a snake, well with a shovel anyway.
LCD or plasma? If you’ve been shopping for a flat-panel TV, that’s the big question. But according to a mystery-shopper survey, electronics salespeople don’t know much about the differences – and they still steer you to the more expensive LCD sets. According to a study by J.D. Power and Associates, customers are told three out of four times that an LCD set would be better for them than the generally less expensive plasma. The survey found salespeople often warn consumers that images can “burn” into plasma screens. But that hasn’t been an issue for several years. The report is based on the experiences of more than 2,000 mystery shoppers during the last six months.
A school kid in Hawaii wants to give the troops a very big hug. Nearly 1,700 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers are getting ready to deploy to Kuwait. Eleven-year-old Ashley Kakazu came up with the idea of sending them off with a huge hug. She’s organizing an effort to set a new Guinness record for a group hug at the deployment ceremony set for August 16th at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Ashley is hoping to have 10,000 people pre-register for the event. The current group hug record of 6,623 people was set in Mexico.
A Wilton, Maine, man is having trouble sleeping after finding a 9-foot python in the engine of his pickup truck. Harley Burgess’s shocking discovery Saturday is the second of its kind in less than a week in Maine. Last Wednesday, a Gorham woman found an 8-foot snake, also identified as a reticulated python, in the washing machine. Burgess says he still shakes when he thinks of the python found under his truck. He has been searching for clues as to how the snake got loose. Reticulated pythons are illegal in Maine without a permit.
A dozen bystanders rushed in to help a 70-year-old man after he stumbled leaving a California bank, causing thousands of dollars to scatter in the wind. Ludwig Geier says hundreds of bills were “gone in no time,” flying through the air and littering the First National Bank’s parking lot in Torrance on Monday. Almost immediately, about a dozen bystanders rushed in to help. Geier says about 96% of the money was found.
It was easy for cops to catch some crooks in Tennessee, considering they ran out of gas before they even left the parking lot of the store they robbed. Police in Cookeville say three thieves took a reclining chair from a Goodwill store but didn't get off the property before running out of fuel. The abandoned vehicle was found in the parking lot and the three would-be robbers were charged on Sunday with theft of property.
A Nebraska man will not be allowed at his son's little league games after accusation he pushed an umpire to the ground. Jeffrey Johnson allegedly pushed the youth baseball ump to the ground after the game and was penalized by the Gretna Youth Baseball and Softball Association. The 39-year-old will not be allowed at home games for a two year period but the ban does not apply for away contests. The July 12th incident also left two coaches suspended by the league. “The Dark Knight” star Christian Bale said yesterday that he did not assault his mother and sister at a London hotel. Bale was arrested, questioned and released on bail after his mother and sister told police he assaulted them on Sunday night. Bale’s lawyer released a statement saying the actor “attended a London police station” on a “voluntary basis.”
One of the staples of office furniture just celebrated a birthday. Love them or hate them, it's been 40-years since Herman Miller introduced the world to cubicles. Furniture designer Robert Propst developed the product, which he called the "Action Office system," so that executives and their employees could adapt to the ever-changing work-place. Propst and Herman Miller are credited with the creation of the cubicle.
Bring on the root canal. A poll by iVillage.com's new Momtourage Web site has found that 27-percent of the more than one-thousand respondents would rather have their tooth drilled than clean their homes. One in ten of those surveyed say they would rather be chewed out by their boss than have to tidy up their house. Seventy-one-percent say if they had to pick, they would rather prepare a meal than have to clean up the dishes left after the food has been eaten.
It certainly pays to be a movie star, and in this case, a leading man. A list of the highest-paid actors by Forbes finds the top five best-paid leading men banked 487-million dollars so far this year. The self-described hardest working man in Hollywood, Will Smith, took home about 80-million dollars since January. He is now starring on the big screen in the film "Hancock." Smith is followed by Johnny Depp with 72-million. Eddie Murphy and Mike Myers are tied at third with 55-million each, while Leonardo DiCaprio rounds out the top five with 45-million dollars.
It’s official – Big & Rich performed their last show together July 18th in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The news came at the Country Jam USA in front of a crowd that booed the duo’s announcement. Big Kenny is taking time off to undergo physical therapy for chronic neck pain, the result of an accident caused by a drunk driver a few years ago. “Kenny has no problem doin’ shows every now and then,” said John Rich. “It’s just that constant, 100-shows-in-a-year thing that you can’t do.” Rich has been busy with his own projects. He is currently a judge on NBC’s “Nashville Star” and produced James Otto and Jewel’s recent CDs, “Sunset Man” and “Perfectly Clear,” respectively. Kenny is working on a musical production for children and is also producing artists on his own.
Alan Jackson is celebrating a new career landmark. He has sold more than 50-million albums in his 19-year career. That averages to just over two-and-a-half million albums a year. Alan attributes his success to recording good songs that fans can identify with. He just chalked up his 33rd number one single with "Good Time," which is currently spending its second consecutive week at the top of the chart.
Keith Urban will join in the Fashion Week festivities in New York City as he performs at the fifth annual "Fashion Rocks" concert on September 5th. Fashion Week kicks off September 5th and runs through the 12th
Estelle Getty, best known for her role as Sophia on “The Golden Girls,” has died. Getty, who had advanced dementia, died yesterday morning at her Hollywood home. She would have turned 85 on Friday.
It’s official – Big & Rich performed their last show together July 18th Big Kenny is taking time off to undergo physical therapy for chronic neck pain, John Rich. has been busy with his own projects. He is currently a judge on NBC’s “Nashville Star” respectively. Kenny is working on a musical production for children and is also producing artists on his own.
Chris Cagle will perform at the Give Kids the World Second Annual Benefit Concert series, a three city event in California running from August 12-14. Sacramento, Fresno and Riverside will host the shows. Give Kids the World provides cost-free vacations to its 70-acre non-profit resort for children with life-threatening diseases.
Gretchen Wilson has a new passion -- fighting obesity. The singer will announce Friday the establishment of "Country Bands Together," which is being organized to help coach people on how to talk to an overweight loved one about their problem. According to the "New York Post," Wilson was instrumental in helping her friend, Tammy Gillespie, get on a healthy eating regime. Gillespie ultimately lost 100 pounds.
Keith Urban fans have traded in petals and panties for pacifiers and Poohs to throw at the country's most famous daddy. According to People-dot-com, concertgoers at Saturday's show in Philadelphia showered the guitar slinger with baby gifts including a stuffed "Winnie the Pooh" for baby Sunday Rose. In the middle of a guitar solo, Keith even took a pink package with his teeth from one fan. He told the crowd, "I have a whole new understanding of the term 'who's your daddy.'"
Winding up another wonderful Wednesday! Make sure to come back and hang out with Carolina Country Cruizin with Matt and Dee tomorrow and keep it rolling with Wheelz 100.5!
*Information supplied from Premiere, Jones and Metro networks*
Another Tuesday has come and gone and we are looking forward to spending Wednesday morning with you tomorrow! Carolina Country Cruizin returns tomorrow so keep it rolling on Wheelz 100.5!
Film critics Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper are leaving their show, “At The Movies With Ebert & Roeper,” the two announced separately. Ebert has been sidelined for the last two years battling cancer. Roeper said his last appearance on the show will be August 17th. He said Disney offered to extend his contract several months ago, but they could not reach an agreement.
A judge in Manhattan gave Philip Smith a divorce from his wife Tricia yesterday on the grounds of cruel and inhumane treatment. Mrs. Smith posted a video on YouTube that verbally assassinated her husband. The video has attracted more than 3 million hits. On the video, Tricia goes through their wedding album, describing family members as “bad,” “evil” or “nasty,” and expresses concern about eviction from the couple’s swanky apartment. The judge said her actions were a “calculated and callous campaign to embarrass and humiliate her husband” and to pressure him into settling the divorce on more favorable terms than were stated in their 1999 prenup, which says she has to be out of their apartment within 30 days and that Smith, president of the Shubert Organization, the largest theater owner on Broadway, must pay her $750,000.
Idaho members of a group that advocates openly carrying handguns in public gathered at Zoo Boise last weekend to take a tour while packing guns on their hips. Ten members of OpenCarry.org were allowed into the zoo Saturday after some initial confusion about whether it was legal to bring an unconcealed handgun inside. Group member Carol Schultz says, “Coming to the zoo was something we could do together, like any family would.” Zoo visitor Alex Lundgren questioned the group’s decision to bring firearms, saying, “Legal and appropriate are two different things.” (No animals were injured in the writing of this story!)
A Missouri woman is hoping the courts can help her monkey earn the right to enter local establishments. The "Springfield News-Leader" reports Debby Rose has filed a lawsuit against several entities over the fact that she and her simian, Richard, have been asked to leave various businesses. Among those named in the suit are the local health department, a Wal-Mart store, and a medical company. Rose claims she needs Richard to help her deal with her social anxiety disorder, which she believes puts the monkey in the same category as a seeing-eye dog. Rose has previously sought the federal government's help in having Richard classified as a service animal.
Santas and elves from around the world are in Denmark. Around 150 Santas and elves are in Copenhagen for the 51st international convention, with the age-old argument about the real date of Christmas topping their agenda. Most of the Santas are in favor of December 24th, but are absolutely sure it’s the 25th. For Father Christmases presiding over the Russian Orthodox holidays, January 6th is the holiest of days. However, the most urgent issue discussed was Santa’s health, since “many are so pot-bellied they can’t make it down the chimney.” Today’s agenda includes attempting to set a new world record – the largest possible number of Father Christmases hulahooping in unison. The convention wraps up tomorrow.
Dogs will lead the way in British air raids after being parachuted in to spy out rebels for troops. Fearless German Shepherds are being trained to jump from aircraft at 25-thousand feet wearing their own oxygen masks and strapped to special forces assault teams. Once down in hostile terrain in Iraq or Afghanistan, the dogs, with tiny cameras fixed to their heads, will be sent in first to seek out insurgents' hideouts. The cameras will beam live T-V pictures back to the troops, warning of ambushes or showing enemy leaders' locations. The dogs will be used in a highly skilled technique called High Altitude High Opening, jumping as much as 20 miles from their targets and gliding towards them for up to 30 minutes. Dogs were first trained to parachute in the Second World War by the British on rescue missions.
An Ohio woman is facing assault charges for allegedly attacking another woman with a peanut. Robyn Lee of Cincinnati allegedly tried to shove a peanut in the mouth of a neighbor who is allergic to them. Police say the 23-year-old Lee was with Shenna Ferguson over the weekend when she tried to put the peanut in her mouth but was told to stop because she has severe peanut allergies. However, Lee is accused of taunting Ferguson and then throwing peanuts at her. The two were in a car together when the incident began and it escalated to the point that Ferguson's car was pretty badly vandalized. Lee is facing aggravated assault charges.
A British principal claims chocolate has turned his students into polite children. According to "BBC News," Dr. Andrew Sheppard of Redcastle Furze Primary School has been rewarding his kids' good behavior with chocolate bars since 2005. Since then, Sheppard says suspensions have dropped from nearly 65 a year to zero. Sheppard noted that there has been criticism about how the school is contributing to childhood obesity and poor dental health. But he responded, quote, "The children really liked it and it really works." Sheppard hopes his program will be added to other schools.
WebMD Health News
Aug. 27, 2003 -- Got high blood pressure? Try a truffle. Worried about heart disease? Buy a bon-bon. It's the best medical news in ages. Studies in two prestigious scientific journals say dark chocolate -- but not white chocolate or milk chocolate -- is good for you. Dark Chocolate Lowers Blood Pressure Dark chocolate -- not white chocolate -- lowers high blood pressure. Here's news that's hard not to like. Eating a small, 1.6-ounce bar of dark chocolate every day is good for you. Very good for you, find Mary Engler, PhD, RN, of the University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues. Now here is a medical experiment you would love to volunteer for. Engler's team divided 21 healthy adults into two groups. One group got a Dove Dark Chocolate bar every day for two weeks. Like other dark chocolate bars with high-cocoa content, this one is loaded with something called epicatechin. Epicatechin is a particularly active member of a group of compounds called plant flavoniods. Flavoniods keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, and slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.
A Brighthouse Networks cable repairman was in a cherry picker truck fixing lines 25 feet in the air when a Bakersfield, California, man decided to steal the vehicle. The thief tore down several phone lines before crashing into a utility pole. Repairman Curtis Bartell got a wild ride but did not suffer any major injuries. The 29-year-old thief was arrested less than 24 hours later.
Want to rid your feet of scaly, dry patches? Catch yourself a carp. A salon in Virginia is offering fish pedicures, where clients’ feet are submerged in tubs containing “doctor fish.” The treatment replaces razors, which have been deemed “unsanitary.” Clients report the procedure is ticklish. It is followed by a typical pedicure, which is reportedly easier because the skin is softened by the fish. Prepare to dunk your tootsies in a tank of water and let tiny carp nibble away. Fish pedicures are creating something of a splash in the D-C area, where a northern Virginia spa has been offering them for the past four months. John Ho, who runs the Yvonne Hair and Nails salon with his wife, Yvonne Le, said five-thousand people have taken the plunge so far. Ho said, "This is a good treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet." He said he wanted to come up with something unique while finding a replacement for pedicures that use razors to scrape off dead skin. The razors have fallen out of favor with state regulators because of concerns about whether they're sanitary. Ho believes his is the only salon in the country to offer the treatment, which costs 35-dollars for 15 minutes and 50-dollars for 30 minutes. The spa has more than a thousand fish, with about 100 in each individual pedicure tank at any given time.
On Ebay:
Raisin Bread Toast Image Of A Frowning Face With Blue Tooth
Item number: 170239379708
Bidding ends: July 23rd
With 1 bid, current bid at press time: $1
Item location: Cleveland, OH
Seller says: “This is an actual piece of raisin bread toast that I almost ate this morning before I realized the miracle. This is the honest truth. Just this morning I was upstairs working on my computer and my wife shouted from down stairs ‘your raisin bread toast and orange juice are ready.’ I shouted back “Ok, thank you, I will be right down. I went down and sat at the table buttered the first piece and as I was eating it I noticed the second piece was amazing. Thank God I didn’t butter that one too! I said, ‘Amazing, it is an image of a frowning face, wearing a sailor’s cap, winking, with a Blue Tooth (sic) on.’ Right now it is currently in a zip lock bag in my freezer.”
I talked about the fact there must be a deer whisper... I saw 4 deer this morning, which just so happen to jump out in front of my 4 runner maybe 3 miles from my house.
Toby Keith says the secret to his longevity is working hard, staying busy and being creative. He tells San Jose, California's Mercury News that his work is never inspired by things like T-V shows and that he's never watched Survivor or American Idol. He says, "I know there's a guy there named Simon, but I know nothing about him."
Toby says former vice president Al Gore asked him and the Dixie Chicks to take part in an aid campaign regarding global warming. But, Toby says, it didn't happen because the Chicks backed out. "It's hard to get people that don't get along to agree when all those egos and stuff are involved."
Jessica Simpson made her live country debut Saturday night at Wisconsin's Country Thunder festival to both boos and cheers. One concertgoer told Wisconsin's Kenosha News, "I just don't hear the country in her. I don't hear the twang. She's not good enough to be here." But another countered, "I actually like her country songs better. She has a great voice, plus she's adorable." Jessica acknowledged the mixed reception by telling the crowd, "I don't know what your perception is of Jessica Simpson or what tabloid you buy, but I just want you to know that I'm just a girl from Texas -- I'm just like you. I'm doing what I love and dating a boy."
Jimmy Wayne is ready to release his new album, “Do You Believe Me Now.” The album will be available August 26th. Joining Wayne for the track “No Good For Me” is his good friend Patty Loveless. The track was actually added after Wayne thought the CD was completed. Loveless is gearing up for her own new fall release, “Sleepless Nights,” which will be in stores September 9th.
Reba McEntire is on the cover of the July 29th issue of Quick and Simple Magazine. In the issue, Reba gives her simple rules for staying happy in the article titled “How I Stay Happy Every Day!”
Steve Azar is giving things away on his new website. In the first promotion, "You Don't Have To Be you 'Til Tuesday" the singer is giving away two concert tickets, meet-and-greets, and one night's hotel stay for two for his shows over Labor Day Weekend. The winners will be picked from the fans who sign up by August 15th to receive e-mail updates from Azar's website. The second promotion, "Keep Your Fingers Crossed," will place autographed copies of his most recent album, "Indianola," into random online orders. Check out the new site at http://www.steveazarlive.com/.
Rockie Lynne with the hit “lipstick” from 2006 has received the “Iron Mike” award from the Army at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The award is given to those who show an intense commitment to the Armed Forces. Lynne was a member of the Army and served at Fort Bragg for six years. This was his first visit back to the base since leaving in 1991. He served in the 82nd Airborne from 1985-1991.
Patrick Swayze, who's been battling a usually fatal form of cancer, is in Chicago to begin work on his new A-&-E series The Beast. As he headed to the Windy City from Los Angeles, the 55-year-old Dirty Dancing star said"I'm a miracle dude -- I don't know why” He is one blessed man!
Bill Murray has agreed to parachute from a plane as part of a special appearance at the Chicago Air and Water Show next month. A spokeswoman for the Mayor’s Office of Special Events says the 57- year-old actor is jumping on behalf of USO of Illinois. The Chicago native will tandem jump with the Golden Knights skydiving team onto North Avenue Beach on August 15th. It is the 50th anniversary of the popular show on Chicago’s lakefront.
That's another Tuesday in the box and making way for your hump day tomorrow! Join Matt and Dee tomorrow for another morning full of fun and keep it rolling on Wheelz 100.5!
*Information source's are Premier, Jones and Metro Networks*
What another fast day! That's it for another Wednesday in the books. (Who thought of that phrase anyway) Join Carolina Country Cruizin' tomorrow with Matt. I'll be heading to court to take care of a ticket. I hope to be back tomorrow. Until then keep it Rolling on Wheelz 100.5!
