RANDOM RICK-NESS
Donate a few dollars to “my” Red Kettle would ya? It helps the Salvation Army…and since we’re in a ‘friendly’ competition to see which deejay raises the most money, I need YOUR help to crush my co-workers mercilessly! (Friendly my butt!) Each 5 dollar donation enters you AUTOMATICALLY to win a trip to Cancun…so if you donate 10 bucks you’re AUTOMATICALLY registered TWICE. Donate 50 bucks and you’re AUTOMATICALLY registered TEN times! See how that works? So get on it by going HERE
…and if you want to help me annihilate my co-workers, (in that friendly way of course) post the link on YOUR Facebook page. Be sure the donations go in the kettle belonging to Rick Sanborn...I’m the dude wearin’ the Santa hat!
MORNING MUSINGS
Morning Show Musings for Wednesday, December 8th
Ryan Theriot had a pretty good day yesterday, signing a one-year deal with the Cardinals, estimated to be worth more than 3 million bucks. How nice to celebrate your 31st birthday by avoiding arbitration and pocketing a few million! And the Cards may be chatting with San Diego to find a new home for Brendan Ryan. Click HERE
We've been trying to honor the life and work of John Lennon recently, as he would have turned 70 this year, if not for the actions of a madman on this date thirty years ago. Lennon and Yoko Ono had returned from the studio around 10:50pm that night, and their limo dropped them off in front of the Dakota, rather than pulling into the building's courtyard, as usual. As the couple walked in, they passed the gunman, who called out "Mr. Lennon?" then fired five shots.
Immediately following John's death, Yoko returned home and called, as she put it, "the three people John would have wanted to know." They were his Aunt Mimi, his 17-year-old son Julian and Paul McCartney.
Rick shared a little info on Lennon's childhood and first marriage:
Lennon's first wife, Cynthia, says that during her decade-long relationship with Lennon, she tried desperately to provide a stable home for him, after he suffered through a childhood during which both his parents abandoned him. Cynthia says, quote, "That's all you can do. You can only give him what he needed. What more can you do? You can't change the man's psyche, his nature, his history, his past, his pain."
Lennon was raised from the age of four by his maternal aunt, Mimi, and her husband, milkman George Smith. Lennon's uncle, who served as a loving surrogate father to him, gave him his first musical instrument - a harmonica.
Lennon's mom taught him his first song on the guitar: Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame." John was in contact with his mother throughout her life but never lived with her. She was killed at the age of 44 in 1958 by a drunken off-duty policeman who was speeding in front of Lennon's home. His father, Freddie, was a merchant seaman who abandoned the family when John was three and didn't make contact with his son again until 1964.
Here are some photos of John and Cynthia and Julian Lennon in happy times:
Paul McCartney recalled writing "A Day in the Life" with Lennon, saying, quote, "John and I sat down, and he had the opening verse. I think he had the opening idea, or we then took the idea from, like, 'The Daily Mirror' or something. The Blackburn, Lancashire, the holes, Albert Hall all got mixed, a little poetic jumble that sounded nice. It was obviously a gorgeous song when he brought it. And I say, I was a big fan of John's, you gotta remember that, ya know?"
Lennon was not always as confident of his writing talents as others were, though. Lennon once said, quote, "In looking back at it, whenever I comment about writing, I always seem to be suffering with it, whether it was writing "Day in the Life" or whatever, ya know? I always seem to have an intense time writing and thinking 'This is the end.' and 'Nothing's coming.' and 'This is dumb.' and 'This is no good.' and all that business."
Here's some rare footage of John. It's not always the best quality audio or video, but, it's worth a look:
Here's an interview with Lennon's surgeon, 30 years later:
John's youngest son, Sean, is speaking out this week about the challenges of fame. The 35-year-old told the UK paper "The Daily Express" quote, "I have a fear of fame, as my therapist would tell you. But I'm a musician, first and foremost." He says his resemblance to his late father can often attract unwanted attention and unflattering assumptions. "I look like my dad. I remember someone saying I was trying to look like my dad because I was wearing glasses. Can you believe that? I'm blind without them."
Here's Sean's website:
Legendary bassist Stanley Clarke was recording with Paul McCartney in the weeks following Lennon's murder, and he remembered the security precautions all the remaining Beatles were being asked to take. "We were on this island, and then the secret service came in and they wanted us to wear some [bullet-proof] vest, 'cause some people were saying, you know, there were pranks. They were saying 'We're gonna bomb the island. This is Kill A Beatle Week.' and all that kind of mess."
Thanks to the listeners who've been writing Uncle Ricky! Corinne contacted us via Facebook to say she was enjoying Styx's Artist of the Week status! And Tim emailed us from Down Under in Sydney to say he loves listening to KHITS online and tells all his "mates" to do the same! Ya gotta love that!
Is your dog a star, waiting to be discovered? The Humane Society of Missouri and PurinaONE® dog food are searching for the next Official Bark in the Park Mascot! If you think your furry friend is paws down the best dog on the block, submit a photo of you and your dog and a 300 words or less testimonial to the Bark in the Park website at www.hsmo.org/bark. Tell the Humane Society why your dog is special and how he/she has helped your family through a “ruff” spot or overcome a great obstacle.
All entrants should be spayed or neutered. They should have good manners with people and with other dogs. They should enjoy walking on a leash and should be comfortable and calm in new situations.
Three finalists will be selected and featured on the Bark in the Park website. The public will vote online for the Official 2010 Bark in the Park Mascot. Five runner-up candidates also will be featured on the website and will take their place of honor in the Mascot’s entourage at Bark in the Park on May 21, 2011.
The deadline for entries is this Friday, December 10, 2010 at 5 p.m.
For more information about the Bark in the Park 2011 Mascot Contest or to register online for Bark in the Park, visit www.hsmo.org/bark. For questions about the mascot contest, call the Humane Society of Missouri at (314) 951-1506.
Doesn't a trip to a warmer climate sound nice right now? You can be one of the first to get an exclusive look at the brand-new trailer for Walt Disney Pictures “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” in 3D on December 13, at AMC Downtown Disney Theatre 12 in Anaheim, California, as part of an exclusive “Pirates Fans First!” event. “Fans First!” winners will also have the chance on that day to be the first to experience the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction that started it all.
Enter to win a vacation for four to the event by “Liking” Yahoo! Movies on Facebook (www.facebook.com/YahooMovies) or by entering the sweepstakes via Disney Movie Rewards (www.DisneyMovieRewards.com).
Following the “Pirates Fans First!” event on December 13th, the trailer will premiere on Yahoo! Movies, Disney.com, and other premium online destinations around the world at 3 p.m. central time. Later the same day at 6 p.m. central, the domestic broadcast debut will occur on “Entertainment Tonight” as part of their December Event for “Pirates.”
“Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” sails into theatres around the world in May 2011. Official website: Disney.com/Pirates. “Like” Pirates on Facebook: www.facebook.com/PiratesoftheCaribbean.
What do you get the Cards fan who has everything but has NO IDEA what the date is? The fifth edition of the Cardinals’ official wall calendar has been released for 2011, featuring an in-depth salute to Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter and the complete roster of 20-game winners throughout Cardinals history. Each of these 32 hurlers is profiled with a colorful write-up and rare photos from the Cardinals’ archives.
The calendars are offered for $15 through the team’s publications department (314-345-9303) and at Dierbergs, Schnucks, Shop ‘n Save, Walgreens, QuikTrip, Wal-Mart, Target, Cardinals Clubhouse Shops, Borders, local independent booksellers.
We're still asking for your help raising money for the Salvation Army, but you can get something pretty nifty for yourself, too! How does this sound? A weekend RV rental from M.B. Thomas Winnebago and wine tasting at Cave Vineyard in St. Genevieve MO can be yours if you are the highest bidder this week here on the KHITS website. Enjoy 2 days and 3 nights touring the countryside in a 23-foot deluxe RV. This value is more than $800!
And, of course, if you have a few extra dollars you can always donate to one of our online kettles. And for every $5 you donate, you're entered to win a fabulous Funjet Vacation!! So, feel good about doing good and maybe get yourself something wonderful, too!
|