It's middle of the week, can you believe it? Wednesday is waiting for you and so is the show. Blog highlights to come. Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by.
THINGS WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNIN’
WHAT A DAY: Freshman orientation and a Presidential candidate at E C Glass. Barack Obama will hold town hall meetings in Martinsville and Lynchburg today. Sen. Jim Webb will join him in the Hill City this evening. The visit is SOLD OUT.
Cindy MacFarland, the widow of the Montgomery Regional Hospital security guard killed by inmate William Morva two years ago has filed a lawsuit against a Montgomery County sheriff and three deputies, claiming they could have prevented Derrick McFarland's death.
Norfolk Southern will construct a facility in Elliston, bringing 2900 jobs to the area and $71 million in tax revenue each year.
Fay produces rains, wind, and tornadoes across Florida yesterday as she moves away from the state into the Atlantic, but she could strengthen and boomerang back towards Florida as a possible hurricane. We’ll be watching.
Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center plans to add 125 new guest rooms, meeting space, and a spa. The facility was built in 1882.
GLTC wants more money from Amherst County or lose bus service.
Could lowering the drinking age prevent binge drinking? 100 of the nations best known colleges and universities think so and they’ve signed the Amethyst Initiative in an effort to open dialogue about changing the current drinking age.
SAY IT ISN’T SO? The initial promoter of two hikers' claim they found the body of Bigfoot in Georgia said he has determined the discovery was a hoax.The body turned out to be rubber, and the two men who claimed they found it, Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, have admitted it was a costume, said a posting Tuesday on the Web sites of Searching for Bigfoot Inc. and Squatchdetective.
ALL ABOARD! The new Zoo Choo is chugging at Mill Mountain Zoo. The antique train came from Florida and was refurbished to look like an old Norfolk Southern excursion train. N.S. contributed $100,000 for the new train.
More stories available from our media partner. 
SUNNY SPORTS
Summer Olympics (NBC) Track and field, gymnastics, beach volleyball and cycling.
Carolina League: Lynchburg 5, Frederick 4. Winston Salem 10, Salem 1
Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski was resting comfortably last night after having triple bypass heart surgery yesterday.
HISTORY MAKERS
1866 President Andrew Johnson formally declares the Civil War over.
1942 Isaac Hayes is born.
1977 The U.S. launches Voyager Two, an unmanned spacecraft carrying a phonograph record containing greetings in dozens of languages, samples of music and sounds of nature.
1977 "Best Of My Love" by the Emotions peaks at No. 1.
1979 Diana Nyad succeeds in her third attempt at swimming from the Bahamas to Florida.
1980 John Lennon begins recording what would be his last album, "Double Fantasy."
1985 Hanspeter Beck of Australia finishes a 3,875 mile, 51 day trip on a unicycle.
1986 Huey Lewis & the News releases the album "Fore!"
1992 Sting marries Trudie Styler.
2004 Regis Philbin enters the record books after logging an unprecedented 15,188 hours on TV.
2007 Leona Helmsley (Former hotel executive) dies.
CELEBIRTHDAYS
Theresa Saldana (The Commish: Rachel)-54
Connie Chung (Broadcast journalist)-62
Joan Allen (Bourne Supremacy: Pamela)-52
Jim Pankow (Chicago)-61
James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Spike)-46
Peter Horton (Thirtysomething: Gary)-55
Al Roker (Today Show)-54
FUN FACT
The average American will watch YouTube for 3 minutes each day
JOKE OF THE DAY 
What is the most dangerous city? Ans – Electri-city
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
OBIT: Dave Matthews sax player LeRoi Moore (46) has died from complications after a June ATV accident. He lived in Charlottesville.
Annie Lennox had emergency spinal surgery over the weekend. She had to be flown from Mexico to London where surgeons released a trapped nerve in her back that was causing a great deal of pain in her left leg. According to her website, she’s home and doing fine.
Christina Applegate told GMA yesterday she is 100% clean and clear of cancer. She chose to have both of her breasts removed after one was found to contain cancerous lumps, will undergo breast reconstruction surgery over the next eight months.
Jennifer Lopez says she came up with the idea of doing a triathlon when she was 8-months pregnant with her twins. She’ll take part in the Malibu Triathlon on September 14th, which includes a half-mile ocean swim, and 18-mile bike ride, and a four mile run.
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps debuts his record-breaking eight gold medals on the new cover of Sports Illustrated (on stands Aug. 20). It’s the fifth time he’s been on the cover. Phelps is grrrrrrrreat!!!! Forget about Wheaties, step aside Tony the Tiger, here comes Olympic champion Michael Phelps. The record-setting swimmer will soon be appearing on boxes of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes and Corn Flakes.
They're giving two thumbs up to the bronze Fonz in Milwaukee.
Mariah Carey is convinced Nick Cannon is her soul-mate – because he reminds her of her mother.
Bono has reportedly been told to lose weight so he can cope with a grueling world tour.
The Emmy people want you to vote for the most memorable moments in television history. The new honors will be presented at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 21st. Voting ends September 15th.
Bette Midler’s “Jackpot – The Best Bette” will highlight Midler’s hit singles. “Jackpot” comes out September 23rd.
SUNNY EXTRA’S
NOT YOUR TYPICAL MORNING, OR IS IT?
It’s almost BTS time. A new poll by Parenting.com reveals just how hectic the morning hours can be for some families. But how hectic are those before school hours?
--Just 10 percent of kids have a hot, sit-down meal before school. That's compared to 11 percent who skip breakfast all together.
--More than one third of Moms admit to dropping kids off at school while they're in their pajamas. --44 percent let their kids go without brushing their teeth
--37 percent don't brush their hair.
DIVINE INTERVENTION CAN SAVE LIVES
According to a new survey by Dr. Lenworth Jacobs of the University of Connecticut, more than half of Americans, 57%, believe God’s intervention could save a family member even if a doctor says treatment would be futile.
When asked to image their own relatives being gravely ill or injured, nearly 20% of doctors and other medical professionals said God could reverse a hopeless outcome. Researchers said doctors “need to be prepared to deal with families who are waiting for a miracle.”
HAPPY HOUR
In D.C., who are the beset tippers? Republicans or Democrats? According to a new survey by Beam Global Spirits & Wine:
· The better tipper: Democrats 60%, Republicans 38%
· Most likely to order a drink straight up: Republicans 82%, Democrats 14%
· Most likely to order a fruity (pink) drink: Democrats 58%, Republicans 34%
· Has the better pick-up line: Democrats 74%, Republicans 14%
· Better at giving a toast: Democrats 63%, Republicans 36%
· Most likely to arrive first to happy hour: Republicans 50%, Democrats 48%
· Most likely to be the last to leave the bar: Democrats 53%, Republicans 46%
HOT STUFF
Japan's trade ministry said on Tuesday that three fires had been caused by overheating Apple iPod nanos, which it said could be due to a battery defect. No one was injured in the three fires involving the music players made by Apple Inc. The trade ministry said iPod nanos with known overheating incidents were sold in Japan between September 2005 and September 2006. No reports of problems here in the U.S..
WHO IS HAPPIER?
The University of Southern California says in a new study that "women start adult life happier than men, but end up less happy" in later years - a change largely based on shifting feelings about family life and money.
HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU GIVE COLLEGE KIDS FOR SPENDING MONEY?
It can be mind-boggling to think that the kid will require even more dough after you've paid thousands of dollars in tuition, room and board, purchased a new computer, and budgeted for books and transportation. How much can a teenager really need, other than necessities like toothpaste and shampoo?
Think about it …toiletries, printer cartridges, dorm decor and school supplies can take a chunk, for starters. And while many campuses are teeming with dining options (including food courts) and cheap entertainment, students want to go out occasionally to see a movie, shop, go on a road trip or just take a break from the monotony of institutional food.
To start the "how much" conversation, look for the "cost to attend" chart on the school's Web site, often found in the financial-aid or admissions pages. There, you'll find the amount factored in for "personal expenses" in financial-aid packages. (These amounts are in addition to books, which most schools budget at roughly $500 per term. For more on the story, click here.
FOR YOUR HEALTH
It’s almost BTS time. Dr. Sue Hubbard – a Dallas pediatrician – offers four ways to boost your child’s immune system and keep them out of the waiting room.
--Scrub up – wash those little hands (and yours too) with soap and warm water for as long as it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” then a second chorus for rinsing.
--Eat the pyramid – fee the kids meals that include whole grains, fruits and veggies, plus at least two glasses of milk and another dairy product a day.
--Catch enough zzzzz’s. Well rested kids stay healthier and less stressed.
--Take care when sharing. Tell your kids not to share drinks or snacks at school, otherwise they’re sure to catch an infection.
(Courtesy: Woman’s Day – September 1, 2008)
HOW MY DRIVING?
Antidepressants may impair people's ability to drive. A new study shows that drivers who take antidepressants performed significantly worse in driving tasks than those who didn't take the drugs
GOOD NEWS STORY
With their black-and-white tuxedo-esque coloring, penguins can look quite distinguished. But last week, Nils Olav, a penguin - who lives at Scotland's Edinburgh Zoo - was given an honor that could score him invites to all of Europe's black-tie affairs: He was knighted in a formal ceremony by members of the Norwegian King's Guard.
Nils' predecessor, also named Nils, has been the group's mascot since 1972, and the younger penguin was named Colonel-in-Chief several years ago. Norwegian troops often stopped in to see the penguin, so Norway's king, Harald the Fifth, thought it only fitting that Nils should receive a promotion to knight, complete with a ceremony featuring 130 guardsmen. This morning, we honor Sir Nils. Check out the head penguin in charge here. Cute stuff.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
“As long as you’re going to be thinking, think BIG anyway.” Donald Trump
You're looking good for a Tuesday. Plenty of things on the blog today, but all eyes will be on Fay and Florida. Let's get you up-to-date. See you on the radio.
THINGS WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING
Fay is headed for the west coast of Florida possibly headed for Naples. It’s a big storm all of south Florida will feel T.S. Fay.
A plane that was taken without permission landed safely – several hours later yesterday - at Roanoke Regional Airport. It was big news. I saw the story on the Houston Chronicle website.
Gov. Kaine orders millions in cuts to the state budget only weeks after it took effect.
Barack Obama will hold a town hall meeting in Martinsville tomorrow and tomorrow evening in Lynchburg at E.C. Glass, Old Gym entrance. Doors open at 4:30. Meeting starts at 6:35P. It’s a free event.
You will need a ticket – they’re available today from 9am-5pm at:
Campaign for Change
Lynchburg Field Office
1125 Main Street
The New York Time newsroom was buzzing late Monday afternoon after it was learned that Barack Obama has finalized his choice for a running-mate. A source close to Caroline Kennedy says the name will come on Wednesday morning. But, University of Virginia government professor Dr. Larry Sabato says Obama should wait until the Democratic National Convention next week **He will be awfully close to Richmond tomorrow?
Roanoke's DMV office will be moving to a new office near Valleypark Drive and Peters Creek Road. The developer expects the building to be completed in about a year
For more on these stories, click on the logo.
SUNNY SPORTS
Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor beat Brazil to advance to the beach finals.
BTW: Those eight gold medals for Michael Phelps won at the Water Cube has also brought NBC its best Saturday ratings since 1990
For the latest on the Olympics, click here.
HISTORY MAKERS
1871 Orville Wright is born. That makes today, National Aviation Day
1909 A dirt track in Indianapolis opens for testing automobiles, later becoming the Indianapolis 500.
1960 Two dogs, Strelka and Belka, join 40 mice, 2 rats and a number of plants for a launch into space aboard Russia’s Sputnik 5. They become the first living animals to survive orbital flight.
1967 "All You Need Is Love" by the Beatles peaks at No. 1.
1977 Groucho Marx dies of pneumonia.
1981 "Charlie's Angles" ends its regular run on TV.
1991 "The Fire Inside" album by Bob Seger is released.
1993 "Cheers" last airs after an 11-year run.
2005 A judge signs Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s divorce papers.
CELEBIRTHDAYS
Debra Paget-75
Adam Arkin (Life: Ted Earley)-52
Jill St. John (Hart to Hart: Sylvia)-68
Eric Lutes (Caroline in the City: Del)-46
Johnny Nash-68
John Stamos (ER: Dr. Tony Gates)-45
Fred Thompson-66
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer: Brenda)-43
Bill Clinton (President)-62
Kevin Dillon (Entourage: “Drama”)-43
Tipper Gore (Vice President’s wife)-60
Lee Ann Womack-42
Gerald McRaney (Jericho: Johnston Green)-60
Matthew Perry (Friends: Chandler)-39
Jonathan Frakes (Star Trek: William T. Riker)-56
Peter Gallagher (The O.C.: Sandy)-53
Maggie Simpson (The Simpsons)-24
FUN FACT
According to Amusingfacts.com, 17 tons of gold are used in the United States annually to make wedding rings.
JOKE OF THE DAY
What do you call a snowman with a suntan? Ans – a puddle
ENTERTAINMENT NEW
Donnie Wahlberg and wife, Kim, are calling it quits after nearly nine years of marriage.
Madonna turned 50 over the weekend and her hubby threw a big surprise party. 90 close friends and family came out to celebrate in a London club decorated with red roses. Guests dined on sushi, quail eggs, caviar with watermelon martinis and champagne. **Wonder if that’s what keeps her looking good?
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" has solved the mystery of who will replace departing CBS series star William Petersen: It's Laurence Fishburne.
According to Star Magazine, ever since being dumped by Lance Armstrong, Kate Hudson has been trying to put the spark back into her relationship with Owen Wilson.
Some of the celebrities from “Dancing with the Stars” became crime victims on Saturday night while dining at a Roseville Minnesota restaurant. . The group included Kristi Yamaguchi, Mark Ballas and Derek Hough. The thieves broke into their van and made off with tens of thousands of dollars in electronics, stole passports, diaries and photographs from the van.
Daniel Radcliffe – of Harry Potter film fame - says he has dyspraxia, a brain disorder associated with clumsiness. He told the Daily Mail last weekend his disorder makes it hard from him to do simple things such as tie his shoelaces.
An ex-NFL player and his estranged wife, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and her actor brother, recent divorcees, a pair of Southern belles and fraternity brothers are among the 11 two-person teams hurrying for the finish line _ and the $1 million grand prize _ on the upcoming 13th edition of CBS' "The Amazing Race."
In Touch magazine has a poll of Hollywood's NASTIEST splits – it has nothing to do with the American gymnastics team in Beijing. I’m talking break-ups in entertainment.
- Charlie Sheen and Denise Richards
- Paul McCartney and Heather Mills
- Anne Heche and Coley Laffoon
- Kim Basinger and Alex Baldwin
- Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook **Should they not be further up the list? Like 3rd?
New on DVD
"The Scorpion King 2: Rise of a Warrior"
"Street Kings"
"Prom Night"
"Best of Both Worlds Concert: The 3-D Movie" starring Miley Cyrus
SUNNY EXTRA’S
DON'T SLEEP ON IT
Struggling with a big decision can keep you up at night. That might not be so bad. Sleeping on it could lead to a poor choice though, according to new research published in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology.
The results are a stark contrast to a 2006 report that found that snap judgments and unconscious thought -- like sleeping on a problem - were best for solving major dilemmas.
BANISH PET HAIR
Woman’s World offers six tips for getting rid of pet air.
-Dampen rubber dishwashing gloves and swipe over upholstered furniture and fabric lampshades. The gloves will hang on to the gloves.
-Inflate a latex balloon and rub it over couches, curtains and clothing. When you’re done, pop it over an outdoor trash can to keep it mess free.
-Hair in the corners. Stick a dryer sheet to the end of a dry-cloth sweeper and use it in those hard to reach places
-Your blue blazer is cover with pet hair. Wrape duct tape around your hand, sticky side out, and rub the fur away.
-Give your pet a fleece blanket. It’ll become your pets favorite spot and it’ll act like a hair magnet. Toss it in the wash every week.
-Keep clothing hairless by cleaning the lint trap in your dryer after every cycle.
WHAT DOES YOUR FAVORITE FLOWER REVEAL ABOUT YOU?
You’re heard it before…roses are red, violets are blue. Sociologist Lissa Coffey, Ph. D., of http://www.coffeytalk.com/ talks about your favorite “perennial” and how it affects your personality.
-Orchids – you’re a creative individualist
-Sunflowers – you’re an optimistic free spirit
-Lilies – you’re a social butterfly
-Tulips – you are grace under pressure
-Roses – you’re a natural born leader.
BATTLEGROUND OF THE SEXES
How long does it take the typical woman to get ready for a night out? According to a British survey, the average woman spends an hour and a half getting ready for the big night, which equals to 3,726 hours in her lifetime. However, 67% of women actually felt the time spent getting ready for a night out was a real chore.
As for the fellas, its just 1,092 hours doing the same thing.
SHOPPING STYLES
Your shopping style may be a window on your happiness -- and what you spend on may matter more than how much you shell out.
Did you know, the happiest shoppers aren't those who bag the biggest bargains, or those who spend whatever it takes to get the best items out there, or people whose wallets are gathering dust while they pinch their pennies. The happiest shoppers are people who aren't hung up on money or things. They'd rather spend on experiences, like dining out or traveling.
Surveys showed four shopping personalities:
*Big spenders: Buy everything full price and buy only the best.
*Value seekers: Seek bargains on nice things.
*Non-spenders: Don't spend much and don't want to.
*Experiencers: Spend freely on experiences, such as good food or travel, but not materialistic.
**FYI: Experiencers are the happiest; big spenders are the least happy -- and have the most credit card debt.
FOR YOUR HEALTH
Nutritionist Dr. Jonny Bowden has written a book called The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth. Here are a few foods he suggests we can’t get enough of and a few ways to increase your intake.
Cabbage. It’s loaded with nutrients and a chemical that boosts cancer-fighting enzymes. Eat it as an Asian-style slaw or a crunchy topping on burgers or sandwiches.
Cinnamon. Studies have found that it controls blood sugar and lowers cholesterol. Sprinkle it in coffee or on oatmeal.
Beets. Forget the canned variety. Dr. Bowden says they’re like red spinach, because they’re full of folate and cancer fighters. Eat beets fresh, raw, and grated in a salad. Heating decreases the antioxidant power.
Pumpkin seeds. They’re the most nutritious part of the pumpkin, and they’re packed with magnesium! Toast them as a snack or sprinkle some on you salad.
Sardines. They’re health food in a can. High in omega-3s, and tons of other vitamins and minerals. Eat them plain or spread a few on toast or crackers.
Turmeric. It’s the star of spices, associated with anti-cancer properties. Add it to soup or any vegetable dish. Or just go out for an Indian curry.
Frozen blueberries. They’re available year-round and they’re good for your memory. Blend them with yogurt, or make a fruit shake by adding some milk.
Canned pumpkin. It’s low-calorie, high in fiber, and contains plenty of vitamin A, which is essential for good vision. Mix canned pumpkin with little cinnamon and nutmeg for a healthy, low calorie dessert.
Ever wonder why mosquitoes hate DEET?
Scientists at the University of California Davis say the widely-used repellent doesn't block the stinging insects' sense of smell, but they just don’t like the smell produced by DEET. The Centers for Disease Control and other groups recommend DEET as the best way to prevent bites from mosquitoes, ticks and other insects. Results of the study are published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."
GOOD NEWS STORY
What kind of story would you expect to come from Hygiene, Colorado? A curious cow and a young wild bear touched noses and hung out together in a pasture before the bear dashed off with the cow in pursuit, neighbors said. But whether the cow was chasing off the bear or just wanted to play is a matter of debate.
Residents of this rural town – some 30 miles northwest of Denver - say the encounter took place Sunday after the bear climbed into an apple tree in the cow's pasture and then climbed down.
By the time wildlife authorities arrived, the bear was gone. **Hummmmmm, you’re a black bear going up against a 1200 pound black cow? Probably thought it was mama.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
"I hate to lose." Michael Phelps.
© 2008