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      A wide selection of interesting and trending stories – rip ‘em, read ‘em
                                    & post ‘em!
                       MONDAY, January 18th, 2021
TODAY IS...
     MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY (3rd MONDAY IN JANUARY) -- The nation
      pauses to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The third Monday in January is
      dedicated as a day of service to celebrate the civil rights leader’s life and impact. He was
      assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968. The holiday was first observed as a federal
      holiday 25 years ago.
      HERE’S A LINK TO CBS’ BULLETIN ABOUT KING’S ASSASSINATION
      HERE’S A LINK TO DR KING’S LAST SPEECH (I’VE BEEN TO THE
      MOUNTAIN)
     NATIONAL PEKING (pee-KING) DUCK DAY -- You know those shiny-looking
      chickens hanging in the window of some Chinese restaurants? That’s actually Peking
      duck! It’s the national dish of China; it’s considered a delicacy and it’s about as crispy as
      you can get a bird without actually burning it.
     NATIONAL ‘WINNIE THE POOH’ DAY -- Did you know ‘Winnie the Pooh’ is
      actually Canadian? The real bear who inspired ‘Winnie’ was an abandoned black bear
      cub who was adopted by a Canadian soldier during World War I. He happened to be from
      Winnipeg (hence the name ‘Winnie’) and took the bear with him to England where it
      became the Canadian army’s mascot (they did weird stuff like that back then).
      HERE’S A LINK TO WINNIE THE POOH’S ‘HONEY SONG’
     NATIONAL THESAURUS DAY -- Hmmm….What’s another word for
      ‘Thesaurus’? The source for synonyms comes in really handy when you want to call
      someone ‘every name in the book.’ FUN FACT: Peter Roget (roh-ZEY) published the
      first Thesaurus in 1852. Today woulda been his birthday (if he lived for 242 years).

     On this day in 1989: Stevie Wonder became the youngest living person to be inducted
      into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
      HERE’S A LINK TO WONDER’S HIT “YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE”

BIRTHDAYS

   DAVE BAUTISTA, 52: Former six-time champion professional wrestler who moved on
       to acting. Most known for playing Drax the Destroyer in the “Guardians of the Galaxy”
       films.
       HERE’A LINK TO SOME DRAX MOMENTS FROM “GUARDIANS OF THE
       GALAXY 2”
      JASON SEGEL, 41: Actor. Best known for playing Marshall Eriksen in “How I Met
       Your Mother,” Segel’s breakout role was on the TV show “Freaks and Geeks.” When
       he’s not acting, he’s also an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church.
      KEVIN COSTNER, 66: Actor. Costner first hit really big in “Bull Durham” and moved
       on to films like “Field of Dreams” and “The Bodyguard.” He won two Academy Awards
       for “Dances with Wolves.”
       HERE’S COSTNER’S FAMOUS SPEECH FROM “BULL DURHAM” (1:19)
       HERE’S “IF YOU BUILD IT HE WILL COME” FROM “FIELD OF DREAMS” (:31)
      JONATHAN DAVIS, 50: Musician. Lead vocalist and frontman for the band Korn.
       While pursuing his music career by day, Davis worked in a funeral home at night.
       HERE’S A LINK TO KORN’S “COMING UNDONE”
      JESSE L. MARTIN, 52: Actor. Martin originated the role of Tom Collins in the
       Broadway smash “Rent. He played one of “Ally McBeal’s” boyfriends before starring as
       Detective Ed Green on “Law & Order.” He currently stars as Joe West in the superhero
       series “The Flash.”

TRENDING/ODD
FAUCI WARNS OF NEW COVID-19 STRAINS FROM S. AFRICA AND BRAZIL (00:20)
Yesterday Dr. Anthony Fauci said there are two more “ominous” strains of Covid-19 coming out
of South Africa and Brazil that are different than the one in the UK. He said there’s no need to
panic but they are studying them to fully understand any potential threat. Fauci said they also
want to see if the new strains are resistant to the vaccines already out on the market.

L.A. COUNTY NOW TOPS IN NATION FOR COVID CASES (00:24)
Los Angeles may be the kingdom of entertainment, but it’s also the kingdom of Covid. On
Saturday, L.A. County became the first county in the country to record more than one million
coronavirus cases. The county’s Department of Health also confirmed its first case of the UK
Covid-19 variant. According to Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. has nearly 200-thousand new
cases and more than 3-thousand deaths as of Saturday.

THREE ARRESTED FOR TRYING TO PASS DC SECURITY CHECKPOINTS (00:30)
Three people were arrested over the weekend for trying to breach security checkpoints in
Washington, DC as the city braces for Inauguration Day protests. On Friday a guy from Virginia
was nabbed for trying to pass security with fake credentials. He was also carrying a gun and 500
rounds of ammo. On Saturday, a woman from Connecticut tried to bluff her way past security by
claiming to be in law enforcement. She was taken for a psych evaluation and later jailed. And
yesterday a third person was arrested, a man from Virginia. He was also carrying guns and
ammo.

LEGENDARY MUSIC PRODUCER PHIL SPECTOR DIES IN PRISON (00:30)

The Wall of Sound has been silenced. Legendary music producer and convicted murderer Phil
Spector has died at the age of 81. While his later years were fueled by demons, Spector’s early
work in the 60s produced 20 top-40 hits with groups like the Ronettes, the Crystals, the
Righteous Brothers, and Ike and Tina Turner. He was most famous for meshing vocal harmonies
with lush orchestral arrangements, which became known as “the wall of sound.” Spector died
Saturday while serving a 19 years-to-life prison sentence for killing actress Lana Clarkson in
2003.
HERE’S A LINK TO SPECTOR-PRODUCED “RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH”
HERE’S A LINK TO SPECTOR-PRODUCED “DA DOO RON RON”

WHATSAPP POSTPONING PRIVACY RULES ROLLOUT (00:32)
What’s up, WhatsApp? The popular chat app has been facing severe backlash for some very
confusing policy changes. WhatsApp is owned by Facebook and has more than two billion users.
They posted a notice that seemed like it said users had until February 8th to agree to let Facebook
access their personal data or they would lose the app altogether. People thought it was an
ultimatum and millions started fleeing. In a blog posted Friday, WhatsApp owned up to some
confusion and said they would better clarify their privacy and security information. Users now
have until May 15th to review and accept the new terms.

TIKTOK USES GLITTER TO GET REVENGE ON CHEATING BOYFRIEND (00:28)
A TikTok user named Holly found a sparkly way to get back at her cheating boyfriend. She
doused his apartment with glitter. Lots and lots of colored glitter, which most of us know is
really hard to clean up. She then posted the whole thing on TikTok, all to the tune of Carrie
Underwood’s “Before He Cheats,” and it’s had more than 27-million views. Holly later posted
screenshots of his response. He called her “childish.” She suggested he try vacuuming.
Takeaway: Don’t mess with a crafty girl!

LAW & DISORDER
CARJACKER RETURNS CHILD AND LECTURES MOM (00:24)
There’s nothing like a little Mom-shaming…from a crook! On Saturday, a carjacker in Oregon
took off in a parked and running SUV only to realize there was a toddler strapped into a booster
seat in the back. The dude circled back to the grocery store where he found the unlocked car and
then lectured the mother for leaving her kid in the car. He even threatened to call the cops! He
told her to get her child and then he drove off. Police are still searching for the guy and the car.

WEIRD SCIENCE & TECH
A SMART TOILET THAT DETECTS HEALTH ISSUES (00:30)
They make smartphones and smart homes. How do you feel about a smart toilet? Toilet and bath
manufacturer Toto unveiled a concept at C.E.S. last week – a toilet that can assess your health by
your pee and your poop. Ok, that’s a little creepy. Yep, based on your ‘business,’ the toilet’s
sensors will track your mental and physical health, transmit the data to an app, then offer
suggestions on how to eat healthier or alert you if it detects a possible illness. Still a little creepy.
No date yet on when the wellness toilet will be available.
HERE’S A LINK THAT SHOWS HOW THE TOILET WORKS

DRUG IN MAGIC MUSHROOMS COULD HELP CURB OBESITY (00:25)
There may magic in those mushrooms after all. Researchers at the University of British
Columbia are studying how the psychedelic drug found in magic mushrooms can help treat
obesity. The drug psilocybin (sigh-luh-sigh-bin) has been shown to alter neural pathways in the
brain that can help people shift their mindsets. The scientists hope the trippy drug can also be
used for effective weight-loss purposes. Previous studies suggest that psilocybin is also effective
in treating anxiety and depression.

YOUR MONEY/SHOPPING
THE IRS WILL START TAKING TAX RETURNS LATER THAN USUAL (00:26)
If you’re planning on filing your tax returns early, you’ll have to wait a few weeks. On Friday
the I.R.S. said they won’t start accepting 2020 individual tax returns until February 12th. The
agency says they need more time to program and test their computer systems after Congress
passed a tax relief law last month. The late start date also means you should expect late returns.
The April 15th tax deadline, which was extended last year, remains unchanged this year.

LIFE/SURVEY SAYS
RECALL: FROZEN PEPPERONI HOT POCKETS (00:21)
Nestlé has recalled more than 700 pounds of Hot Pockets for possibly containing glass or hard
plastic. The recall is for the 54-ounce boxes that contain 12 frozen pepperoni Hot Pockets and
have an expiration date of February 2022. The FDA has labeled this a Class 1 recall, meaning
high-risk. If you have the product, throw it out or return it.

PRETTY WOMEN MORE BELIEVABLE IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES (00:23)
File this one under “Sad but True.” According to a new study inspired by the #MeToo
movement, younger, attractive women are more likely to be believed in sexual harassment cases.
It seems women that don’t fit that mold have a harder time convincing people. They’re perceived
as less credible and even less harmed. The researchers from the University of Washington think
the study will show how harassment laws may not always protect everyone equally.

ENTERTAINMENT
DWAYNE JOHNSON DROPS TEASER FOR NEW SITCOM “YOUNG ROCK” (00:21)
Dwayne Johnson is Big – big talent, big body, and big money-maker. In fact, he’s the highest-
paid star in Hollywood. But once upon a time he was small…and he’s turned those stories from
his youth into a new sitcom called “Young Rock.” On Saturday, Johnson dropped a teaser video
for the program, which showcases the superstar’s formative years. “Young Rock” debuts
February 16th on NBC.

ACTRESS JAMIE LYNN SPEARS POSTS BIZARRE TELSA COMMENT (00:27)
Did she or didn’t she? Actress Jamie Lyn Spears posted an Instagram video blaming Elon Musk
and Tesla for the death of her cats. The “Zoey 101” star claimed that the cars are so quiet,

animals don’t hear them when they start. She called Tesla a “secret cat killer” and then said
Musk owes her a couple of cats. By Saturday, Spears switched gears and dialed back her claim,
posting she did not run over any cats and that Tesla is not to blame. Both posts have since been
deleted.

“GODZILLA VS. KONG” TO DEBUT TWO MONTHS EARLY (00:19)
If you’re hoping a battle of monsters might brighten your pandemic, you’re in luck. Warner
Brothers announced they’re moving up the release date of their monster mash-up movie
“Godzilla vs. Kong.” The film, which stars Alexander Skarsgard, Millie Bobby Brown, and Kyle
Chandler, will now premiere on March 26th in both theaters and on HBO Max.
HERE’S A LINK TO THE FILM’S TEASER TRAILER
HERE’S A LINK TO THE GODZILLA ‘ROAR’
HERE’S A LINK TO SOME KONG ‘ROAR’ SOUND EFFECTS

“ENCHANTED” MOVIE PREPS A SEQUEL (00:19)
Break out the tiaras, because “Enchanted” is coming back. Actor Patrick Dempsey announced
that production will start in the spring on “Disenchanted,” a sequel to the popular 2007 film
about an animated Disney princess who comes to life in the real world of New York City. Amy
Adams will reprise her role of Princess Giselle in the film, which will debut on Disney Plus.

SPORTS
NFL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE SET (00:25)
Football’s final four is set for the conference championships this Saturday. In the AFC, the
Buffalo Bills will face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. It’s the first time the Bills
have made the conference championship since the 1993 season, when they beat – the Chiefs. In
the NFC, it’s a matchup of future Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay
Packers will host Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The winners will advance to Super
Bowl 55 in Tampa.

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