The Laker's Morning Drive

Easter eggs may be good for you, but only if you eat small ones made from cocoa-rich dark chocolate, according to the latest in a string of scientific studies to show potential health benefits of chocolate.

German researchers studied more than 19,300 people over a decade and found those who ate the most chocolate -- an average of 7.5 grams a day -- had lower blood pressure and a 39 percent lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke than those who ate the least amount of chocolate -- an average of 1.7 grams a day.

But, the difference between the two groups was just under six grams (6g) of chocolate a day, less than one small square of an average 100g bar, they wrote in a study in the European Heart Journal to be published on Wednesday.
Brian Buijsse of the German Institute of Human Nutrition in Nuthetal, who led the study, said people should not use his work as an excuse to stuff themselves with chocolate.

"Small amounts of chocolate may help to prevent heart disease, but only if it replaces other energy-dense food, such as snacks, in order to keep body weight stable," he said.

Although they said more work needed to be done to be sure, the researchers think the flavanols in cocoa may be the reason why chocolate seems to be good for blood pressure and heart health -- and since there is more cocoa in dark chocolate, dark chocolate may have a greater effect.

A PRE-SCHOOL TEST FOR YOU

Which way is the bus below traveling?
To the left or to the right?



Can't make up your mind?

Look carefully at the picture again.

Still don't know?

Pre-schoolers all over the United States
were shown this picture and asked the same question.
90% of the pre-schoolers gave this answer.

"The bus is traveling to the left."

When asked, "Why do you think the bus is traveling to the left?"

They answered:

"Because you can't see the door to get on the bus."


How do you feel now ???

Great time last Thursday night at "Kids Night On Broadway" at the Fox Cities P.A.C!!

The kids could have their hair braided, build Popsicle Stick art, get their picture taken with a scene from Little House on the Prairie - the Musical, and I even read a chapter of one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books.

Thanks P.A.C. and all the parents that brought their children down to participate!

Is there a new Dancing With the Stars love connection? Sources tell Hollywoodlife.com that ESPN reporter Erin Andrews "may be" dating her partner, Maksim Chmerkovskiy. Chmerkovskiy, was previously engaged to fellow dancer Karina Smirnoff, told People magazine of Andrews, "She does not hold back. She's open, and what you see is what there is. Everybody who meets her falls in love with her."

In my humble opinion, the only people who even knew who Erin Andrews was, before the unfortunate Peeping Tom incident.. we're college guys... ESPN junkies, etc.

I had no idea who she was before the hotel room peep hole story, and, while I believe the Peeping Tom deserves to be locked up, I think Erin owes him a huge "Thank You" for putting her on the map. Just thinkin'

Happy Birthday to Eric Clapton, who turns 65 today (March 30th, 1945)!!! Since his mid-'60s stint in the Yardbirds, through John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos, and his solo career, Clapton -- who was affectionately dubbed "Slowhand" by his fans -- has come to personify the best in blues-rock guitar.
Earlier this year Clapton teamed up with fellow former Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck for a handful of dates -- and just wrapped up a mini-tour with Roger Daltrey serving as his opening act. Later this spring he'll undertake a 14-city European tour with former Blind Faith bandmate Steve Winwood.

Nearly a fifth of spouses admit checking their partner's emails or text messages, according to a new study. When partners were asked whether they had read their spouses emails, eight percent of men and 14 percent of women said they had. Ellen Helsper, who led the study, said, "One of the surprising findings was that surveillance was undertaken more often by wives than husbands. This contrasts with research that suggests that women are less technologically skilled than men. It seems that they are able to overcome these barriers when they feel their relationship is at stake.'' One in 10 women and six percent of men had check the browser history of their partners.

How to Wear Shorts With Tights

Click above to read an excellent article by Leslie Kennedy from StyleList.com

Yes, baby bunnies are the cutest thing ever.

Pet stores, feed stores and even some garden-supply shops are filled with rabbits just waiting to land in an Easter basket. But things don't always work out so well once the rabbits come home. According to some estimates, 90 percent of rabbits brought into American homes for the spring holiday will end up euthanized.

Want to keep your new pet from becoming a statistic? Paw Nation checked in with the experts at 3 Bunnies Rabbit Rescue in East Hartford, Conn. to find out what you should consider before you bring home that Easter bunny. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you have the room?
"People need to realize a rabbit does need room, does need exercise, does need socialization," says Mona Reopel, co-founder of 3 Bunnies. If you can, opt for an X-pen rather than a cage to allow the rabbit substantial space.

2. Are you able and willing to rabbit-proof your home?
Rabbits can be litter trained and allowed to roam around the house like a cat or dog, but it's their natural instinct to chew. Reopel warns that computer cords, TV cables and even table legs are easy pickings for your rabbit.

3. Do you have any allergies?
Rabbits need hay 24 hours a day, and that means its constant presence in your home. While most pet owners think of dander as the number one-allergen -- and dander allergies can be triggered by a rabbit -- Reopel reports the larger concern for most families is asthma and seasonal-type allergies that might be spiked by the hay.


4. Do you spend a lot of time away from home?
In addition to fresh hay, rabbits need fresh water, and they cannot be left alone for long stretches like a cat, Reopel warns. You have to plan for someone to stop in to check on them daily because kennels are not common for rabbits. Likewise, rabbits are extremely social animals, she says. They need someone to play with, need toys (cardboard boxes and paper towel rolls work well) and attention.

5. Are you ready for your bunny to grow up?
"People need to understand that that baby is just like a human kid," Reopel warns. "Rabbits go through the terrible twos, the grumpy adolescent stage..." Bunnies at a pet store are often young -- many taken from their mothers at just 4 weeks old -- and therefore cuddle right up to you when you pick them up. They're also scared, Reopel says, overwhelmed by the sounds, smells and lights of a store. Bringing them home, you might find a completely different personality erupts within days or weeks. The smaller breeds are likely to be more aggressive, Reopel reports, comparing their behavior to that of small dogs. If you have children, opt for a larger rabbit breed -- the "gentle giants" of the rabbit world -- or a mixed breed. Picking a bunny up at a rescue will allow you to spend time with them before adoption, and the experts there can match one with an appropriate temperament to your family.

6. Do you have the money for rabbit care?
A bunny in the pet store may cost you next to nothing, but their food demands need to be factored into your budget. For a single rabbit, Reopel estimates you will buy one 10-pound bag of good quality pellets every two to three weeks, at a cost of about $10 a bag. You'll need a new hay bale every three to four weeks at as much as $15 per bale. And if you want to supplement with greens, factor in the cost of a head of romaine on occasion. Plus vet costs.

7. Does your vet specialize in exotic breeds?
They may be domesticated animals, but home bunnies need special care from a vet with experience in rabbits, Reopel warns. And they'll need it by 4 months of age, when you should spay or neuter your bunny. The national average for spay/neuter is anywhere from $300 to $600, and rabbits will require an annual visit from there on out. The good news? Rabbits don't require yearly shots, so your visits should cost only around $50.

8. How will your other pets react?
"Most rabbits get along fine with dogs and cats," Reopel says. But the introduction can be tricky, and Reopel cautions people to think about whether they have the time it will take to slowly introduce their bunny to the family. If your cat spends a lot of time outdoors hunting, they may look at your new pet as prey. Likewise, a number of dog breeds are not conducive to cohabitation with rabbits. Sight hounds, huskies and greyhounds may not mix well with a rabbit companion.

9. Do you have the time?
Rabbits can live 10 or even 15 years, Reopel says, and most kids lose interest after two weeks. "At which point Mom and Dad are going to be caring for this pet for the next 15 years," she says.
(From PawNation at AOL.com)

 The Eagles, Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban will be touring together for the first time when they hit the road on June 8th for a North American stadium concert tour. Tour dates and lineup is listed below.

The Eagles - Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit - will perform hits from their more than 35-year career, such as "Hotel California," "Desperado," "Life In The Fast Lane," "Lyin Eyes," "Take It To The Limit," "One Of These Nights," "Heartache Tonight," and more.

The Dixie Chicks - Martie Maguire, Emily Robison and lead singer Natalie Maines - will hit the stage for the first time in four years, performing songs from all four of their albums including smash hits, "Wide Open Spaces," "Goodbye Earl," and "Not Ready to Make Nice."

Urban's career has produced some of the industry's best known and most loved songs - 11 #1s. "Days Go By," "Sweet Thing," Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me," "You'll Think of Me," "Better Life," as well as Billboard's Country Song of the Decade, "Somebody Like You," will highlight Urban's performance. (from antimusic.com)

June-8 *Toronto, ON Rogers Centre
June-10 East Rutherford, NJ New Meadowlands Stadium
June-12 Boston, MA Gillette Stadium
June-14 Philadelphia, PA Citizens Bank Ball Park
June-15 Washington, DC Nationals Park
June-19 Chicago, IL Soldier Field
June-22 *Winnipeg, MB Canad Inns
June-24 *St. Louis, MO Busch Stadium

*Keith Urban is not appearing at these concerts

Someone called the show yesterday to tip me off about Barb and Mary... the singing waitresses at the Omro Family restaurant... here they are singing on my show this morning! Happy St Patricks day!!

Tiger Woods is returning to golf, he announced on Tuesday (March 16th). He released a statement, confirming that he'll be playing in the Masters, which begins on April 8th.

Tiger Woods' return to golf is hitting tournament-goers where it hurts most -- because ticket prices for the Masters  have gone through the roof. Four day Masters Badges -- which ordinarily go for $200 each -- were listed for resale at $1,950 on GoldenTickets.com last Friday ... even before Tiger announced he was going to play. Yesterday ticket prices skyrocketed to $2,400.

As big of a draw as the Masters Tournament is, it stands to be a ratings blockbuster next month on CBS. That’s because Tiger Woods has announced that he will return to the links with the Masters after a four-month hiatus due to a sex scandal.
While several advertisers have dropped Woods as their public endorser due to his tarnished image, but the scandal hasn’t diminished audience interest in Woods. If anything, it has raised public curiosity and might draw viewers to the tournament who don’t normally watch golf.

That’s not only good news for CBS, which has the broadcast rights to the final weekend, but to ESPN as well, which will be televising the first two rounds.
For the small number of people who own 3D television sets, there will be an added bonus of bein able to watch Tiger Woods’ return in 3D. Augusta national Golf Club and Masters Tournament Chairman Billy Payne announced just before Woods made his return declaration that the Masters will be broadcast live in 3D this year – a first for professional golf.

The four tournament rounds take place Thursday, April 8th through Sunday, April 11th.