Monday, January 21, 2013

MLK DAY
Today is MLK Day. To celebrate the life of The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King, Jr., a leader in the American Civil Rights movement. MLK Day is a federal holiday, which means there's no mail delivery; most banks are closed, the stock market is closed and federal offices are closed. If you're not sure whether something's closed or not today, it's probably best to call ahead or check it out online. If you want to take part in a celebration, there's our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day March today starting at 9:45 at the Jefferson Street Missionary Baptist Church, there's a march in Murfreesboro, and although the Nashville public library is closed today, they do have a year round collection commemorating Nashville’s importance in the Civil Rights Movement.

GET READY FOR COLD WEATHER
If you have a little extra time today you may want to use it to dig out those extra warm clothes for the next few days. This latest blast of cold air is supposed to be the coldest we've had so far this year, with temperatures down into the teens overnight, and highs probably not making it above freezing tomorrow.

PRESIDENT SWORN IN TODAY
President Barack Obama was officially sworn in for his second term as President yesterday, but the pomp and circumstance is today. He takes the ceremonial oath today at the United States Capitol. The Constitution specifies the President and Vice President be formally inaugurated every four years on January 20th.  

LADY GAGA TO PERFORM PRIVATE INAUGURAL EVENT FOR OBAMA STAFFERS
Lady Gaga may be heading to Washington D.C. to join the many stars performing at Inauguration events.  An inaugural source tells "The Hollywood Reporter" that Gaga will be headlining the private ball attended by members of the President's staff on Tuesday night.
     Other stars helping with Inaugural celebrations Monday include Katy Perry, Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and Usher.  The "Glee" version of her hit "Edge of Glory" was included as one of the song's on the official Obama-approved Inauguration Playlist released last week.

STUDY TO EXAMINE WHETHER DRUG CAN HELP PREVENT ALZHEIMER'S
Researchers are testing an experimental drug to see whether it can slow down or even prevent Alzheimer's disease. The drug was developed by Eli Lilly to clear out a certain type of protein in the brain that's been linked to the disease. The new research will find out whether keeping those pathways cleaned out keeps memory loss from developing.

BARBARA WALTERS IN HOSPITAL
Veteran journalist Barbara Walters is in a hospital in Washington, DC after she fell and cut her head. The 83-year-old Walters was at the British Ambassador's home Saturday night for an inaugural party when she apparently slipped on a stair.  

THIS IS SO -CALLED BLUE MONDAY
How do you feel today? Are you in a good mood, or kind of down? Today's supposed to be the most depressing day of the year. Someone came up with a formula that factored in winter weather, which is often cold and dreary, debt you may still owe from Christmas, time since Christmas (all that holiday high has worn off), the time since failing on our New Year's resolutions, and low motivation-- and determined this is one of the bluest Mondays of the year.

WANT TO BE THE BOSS? WHAT'S YOUR BMI?
Being fit matters. New research suggests that if you want to be the boss, you need to check your BMI -- your body mass index. It's calculated using your height to weight ratio. The study finds staying trim is virtually required for anyone on track for a CEO job, because a few extra pounds or a slightly larger waistline affects how your leadership ability and stamina on the job is perceived. It had already been found that people who weigh more tend to earn less and get promoted less often.

NEW MIGRAINE PATCH
There's a new migraine patch in the works. It's just been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. We'll let you know when it hits the market.

WHAT MAKES FAST FOOD THE BEST?
Just what is it that makes your fast food restaurant your favorite? Most Americans said the number one thing that keeps them coming back is getting the food as quickly as possible. Next was good value, convenience of location and low prices. The taste and quality of the food was way down on the list at number 8 and 9th most important factors in our fast food satisfaction.
Respondents said that McDonalds, Subway and Taco Bell were among the most convenient fast food restaurants, and also the ones with the best value.  But when asked which chain had the best tasting food, respondents said Subway, Chick-fil-A and Wendy's.

TSA DUMPS NAKED BODY SCANNERS
No matter how slim you are, chances are good that you weren't happy knowing Transportation Security Administration scanners could see a naked image of your body when you went through the screening process. Well, they say they're doing away with that screening system. They'll just keep the kind that makes a generic body image, and shows agents where something unusual might be hidden. (Congress has mandated that those scanners be changed or removed by June. Since the company that makes them doesn't have the software to change them, they'll be replaced. )

STUDY: HAVING SEX COULD PREVENT THE FLU
A new study finds having sex one to two times per week could boost your immune system and keep you from getting the flu. Individuals who engage in regular sexual activity have been shown to produce higher levels of immunoglobulin (IGA), an anti-body that can prevent susceptibility to catching minor colds and flus.
More than the one to two times per week 'dosage' could make you MORE likely to get the flu.

SORBET HELPS TO FIGHT THE FLU?
We were talking the other day about home remedies for colds and flu. There's a new one that you may be happy to hear about: it's a flu fighting sorbet. Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams calls it "Influenza Sorbet" and says it contains Maker's Mark Bourbon, lemon and cayenne pepper, and pectin, which is an ingredient in cough drops. It's expensive, though. If you can find Influenza sorbet, it'll cost you about 12-dollars a pint. 

SUPERBOWL MATCHUP SET
The Super Bowl match-up is all set with a coast to coast pairing less than two weeks from today. The Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers are heading to the Super Bowl in New Orleans after the Ravens beat the New England Patriots, 28-13, in the AFC Championship Game and San Francisco beat Atlanta, 28-24 in the NFC title game.   

WIN A BIG GAME PARTY FROM MIX 92.9
And if you plan to watch the big game, make sure you also get registered to win the "Ultimate Catering Experience" from Famous Dave's! Award-winning BBQ ribs, roasted chicken, home-style potato wedges and much more for you and 25 of your closest football fan friends! Just register for the Famous Dave's "Big Game" party at www.mix929.com

MASS SHOOTING IN ALBUQUERQUE
A 15-year-old boy faces charges after a deadly mass shooting in Albuquerque, New Mexico... Two adults and three children were shot to death.  The victims have been identified as the chaplain for the Albuquerque Fire Department and members of his family.     

DANICA PATRICK DIVORCING
Racing car driver Danica Patrick has filed for divorce from her husband after seven years to Paul Hospenthal. She won't be seeking spousal support and as the couple had a prenuptial agreement.

TOP MOVIES AT BOX OFFICE
The supernatural thriller "Mama" was number one at the box office, making 28.1 million dollars during its debut weekend at movie theaters in the U.S. and Canada.  "Zero Dark Thirty" scored second with 17.6 million dollars.  Third place went to "Silver Linings Playbook."

NASHVILLE MOM HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR LEAVING BABY WITH ABUSIVE BOYFRIEND
Metro Nashville police have charged a 21-year-old mother in the death of her toddler daughter. Police say Neena Costanza surrendered to police on Friday after being indicted in Davidson County on charges of murder, aggravated child neglect and child endangerment in the July 9 death of 17-month-old Eloise Costanza. Police say the child received fatal injuries while in the care of Costanza's boyfriend, 22-year-old Jacob Scott Hughes, who was arrested shortly after the death on murder and abuse charges. The indictment alleges that Costanza knew her daughter was being abused, but left her in Hughes' care anyway.

GOOGLE CONSIDERS ID RING SYSTEM TO BYPASS PASSWORDS
 Internet giant Google is apparently considering a plan that would allow users to bypass entering those ever-more pesky passwords when logging in to their sites.  Two security experts at the company have outlined a proposal for a "ring" incorporated into smartphones or jewlery that would let computers know who you are.  The ring would only require a tap on the computer to verify your identity.  The proposal faces a number of hurdles, the not the least of which is cost, but frustration and doubt is being cast on the password system, with Internet providers demanding users create longer and more complex key codes regularly, to ward off hackers.

AUSTRALIA LIBRARY PRANK INVOLVES LANCE ARMSTRONG BOOKS 
 A prank note in an Australian library declares that books involving cyclist Lance Armstrong would be shifted to the fiction section and now that note has gone viral on the Internet.  The sign posted at a library in Sydney read, "All Non-Fiction Armstrong books, including 'Lance Armstrong-Images of a Champion,' 'The Lance Armstrong Performance Program' and 'Lance Armstrong: World's Greatest Champion,' will soon be moved to the fiction section."  A picture of the sign was posted on the Internet.  The library says the printed notice was a prank, adding that an internal review was underway."