Trending This Mornin'
Rain and wind arrive late today. Hi near 50. Then a blast of Arctic Air moves in Friday, with strong winds. Hi around 40. Saturday and Sunday, Mostly Sunny, highs in the 40s. Lows in the 20s. Christmas Eve, partly cloudy. Hi 49. Christmas Day, 30% chance of showers. Hi 45. 60% chance of showers Wednesday. Hi 44.
Winter storm watch for Highland Co, Greenbrier and Pocahontas, WVA. until Saturday. High wind watch for the entire Sunny listening area from 3p Thursday thru Saturday at 1p. Wind Advisory for Bland, Tazewell and Wythe until 6P this evening.
Holiday travel might be a challenge for some. A blizzard will blast the Plains and Midwest.
Southwest Va. School Districts are review security after Sandy Hook.
Virginia lawmakers will introduce gun proposals. Bob Goodlatte could be a key player in the gun control debate. He's not in favor gun control tightening, according to Roll Call reports.
Here comes winter. Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year—the time when the Sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky. Winter arrives at 6:12a on Friday morning. However, the Mayan calendar predicts the end of the world on Dec. 21 at 11:11 (UTC). If it makes you feel better, the Mayans are unfazed by the doomsday prediction.
Lookin’ Back
There are 11 days remaining in 2012. Just 4 Shopping Days Left Until Christmas. 1 day until winter arrives.
1965, The Dating Game premiered
1975, Guitarist Joe Walsh joined The Eagles. He replaced Bernie Leadon
1979, Knots Landing debuted on CBS
1981, the first ever performance of Dreamgirls took place at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway
Cuttin Cake Today
American Idol's David Cook 30, rocker Chris Robinson 46, Alan "Eye In the Sky" Parsons 64, drummer Peter Criss of KISS 67
Joke of the Day
Why does Santa have three gardens? ans - So he can hoe, hoe, hoe
Smarter Than Question
Two in every 10 people over 65 are still paying this. What is it? Hope you're ready for this one. Two in 10 people - over 65 - are still paying off student loans.
Entertainment Buzz
X-Factor's final three battled it out for America last night. A nice opening to the show with Simon Cowell remembering Sandy Hook Elementary, followed by ALL the contestants singing Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone. Everyone was dressed in white. The three final acts - Tate Stevens, Carly Rose Sonenclar and the group Fifth Harmony - each performed three songs with the hope of landing enough votes to win the $5 million recording contract. We'll see who wins tonight on FOX.
(Photo: Popcrunch.com)
BTW: It's official, Simon Cowell is dating former Baywatch star Carmen Electra, but stops short of calling her his girlfriend. A British thing maybe?
Miss USA - Olivia Culpo - wins the Miss Universe pageant, after competing against 88 other women from countries around the world.
(Photo: PR NewsFoto/PepsiCo)
The health advocacy group -Center for Science in the Public Interest - is urging Beyonce to abandon her $50-million endorsement deal with soft drink maker PepsiCo. They list healthy problems linked to sugary drinks, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay. The organization urges her to consider the example shes setting.
President Obama is Time Magazine's Person of the Year...again.
Paul Simon sang his classic song "The Sound of Silence" at a Newtown teachers funeral. She was killed last Friday shielding her first-grade students from a gunman.
(Photo: Trae Patton, NBC)
Now that Cassadee Pope has been crowned the winner of Season 3 of 'The Voice,' it's time for her to turn her attention toward recording an album. She says the album will have a hint of country to it.
Newsman Sam Donaldson is making headlines of his own. The former ABC News anchor was arrested on suspicion of DUI earlier this month in Lewes, Del.. The 78-year-old shortly before 8 p.m. following a traffic violation
Congrats to Adele, voted AP Entertainer of the Year.
Jennifer Aniston, Ryan Gosling and Bruno Mars, Sofia Vergara, Ellen DeGeneres, Rob Lowe, Jamie Foxx, Amy Brenneman, Nicki Minaj, Naomi Watts, Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, Brad Paisley, LeAnn Rimes and others, will help Jimmy Kimmel celebrate his talk show's move to 11:35 p.m. on January 8.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's," `'Dirty Harry" and "A League of Their Own" will be preserved for their enduring significance in American culture by the Library of Congress, along with "A Christmas Story". In all, 25 films were added to the National Film Registry.
Bedtime at Katherine Heigl's house can take a while. As a mom of two daughters and seven other kids of the four-legged variety, she likes to give each one special attention. So she's starting her own pet products line.
Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove—with all the Disney princesses from Snow White to the latest jewel—Rapunzel. Tonight thru Dec 23, Roanoke Civic Center.
Dates and Times:
Thursday, Dec. 20-7:00pm
Friday, Dec. 21-7:00pm
Saturday, Dec. 22-1:00pm, and 5:00pm
Sunday, Dec. 23-1:00pm and 5:00pm
(Photo: E! Entertainment)
Ready for a little Christmas? Check out the Kardashian Christmas card.
Not to be outdone...
Just what you're waiting for...Honey Boo Boo's holiday photo.
Tonight on TV
I Want A Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown (ABC) CMA: Country Christmas (ABC)
The Big Bang Theory (CBS) Two and a Half Men (CBS) Person of Interest (CBS) Elementary (CBS)
The X Factor (FOX)
A White House Christmas: First Families Remember (NBC) The Office (NBC) Parks and Recreation (NBC) Rock Center with Brian Williams (NBC)
Holiday Specials tonight
News from Nashville
How about that Tate Stevens with Little Big Town...motorboating on X-Factor last night.
Taylor Swift says when it comes to the holidays, her brother is the worst wrapper in the family. Hmmmm....you sure about that? Remember the Grammy Nominations and Beat Box Taylor with L.L. Cool J?
CMA Country Christmas is tonight. Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles. Artists slated to perform include Dierks Bentley, Colbie Caillat, Katherine Jenkins, Lady Antebellum, John Legend, Little Big Town, Martina McBride, Scotty McCreery, The Band Perry and Keith Urban.
Justin Moore announced on Twitter yesterday, he was headed to the studio to begin work on a new album.
How about this holiday tradition in the McGraw house. Faith Hill tells E! News one of their traditional meals at Christmas takes place on Christmas Eve. Tim cooks up the best spaghetti and meatballs. Guess it's that Italian heritage coming out of him. And that's a good thing. Another tradition, on Christmas Eve, they open one gift.
Lee Brice has 'Fresh' Christmas album on his bucket list. That's right, he wants to do an album with new material instead of the same old "White Christmas" everyone has dreamed about. He's also planning a new studio album next year.
I know we just finished season 3 of The Voice, but season 4 begins in March with two new judges, Shakira and Usher. This video is too funny. Take a look.
Lar's This & That
GOOD NEWS FOR THE DOWDY CATS...TIGGER, SNUGGLES, KISSES AND MICHAEL
According to a poll by the Associated Press, the majority of pet owners, 53%, plan to give their animal or animals a gift for the holidays. And with the way Americans love their pets, that's no surprise. In fact, we're surprised it's that LOW.
Dogs are more likely to get presents than cats, 56% to 48%. Women are also more likely to buy gifts for their pets than men. (WWL.com)
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
A new survey of people over 45 by the American Osteopathic Association came up with this list of the top six ways people get hurt around Christmas. So PLEASE be careful with all of these . . .
#1.) Slipping and falling on ice.
#2.) Shoveling snow.
#3.) Participating in winter sports.
#4.) Shopping.
#5.) Accidents traveling.
#6.) Wrapping presents. Yes, 7% of people said they've suffered some kind of physical pain in the past from wrapping presents.
The survey also found that 45% of women and 39% of men who hurt themselves during the holidays will try to ignore the pain until after Christmas!
ACCORDING TO SCIENCE, NOT GPS
An astronomy expert looked at the movements of planets and stars around the time when Jesus was born, to figure out whether the three wise men could've followed a star from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. And the answer is . . . no. If they followed Sirius . . . the brightest star in the sky . . . they would have ended up at the South Pole. (XKCD)
WIFE HUNT
Sandy McCulloch wants a wife. And he's taking his search to the streets. The 82-year-old is wearing a sign around his neck that reads: "Wanted: a wife." He has some specifics. McCulloch is looking for a lady who is at least 60, loves books and has a sense of humor. He also wants a wife who lives in Corvallis, Oregon. McCulloch tells a local paper he was married three times by the time he was 39. He says he's cleaned up his act and now knows what not to do in a relationship. McCulloch says the wife wanted sign has sparked some conversations, but nothing serious.
TRACKING SANTA
Google wont see Santa Claus this year; the North American Aerospace Defense Command is switching to Microsofts Bing maps for its annual NORAD Tracks Santa project. "NORAD and Google have decided to go their separate ways and pursue other opportunities," said a spokesman for the project.
NORAD had used Google Maps since 2007 for the interactive experience that lets smartphone users spot and pinpoint Santa in the commands app as Mr. Claus makes his way around the world in a single night to deliver all of those toys to good little boys and girls. NORAD said its Track Santa app has been downloaded nearly 922,000 times through Apples iTunes, almost 558,000 times on Google Play for Android users, and about 2,500 times by Windows Phone 8 users.
NORAD began tracking Santa from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1955 when a small child called the base in hopes of speaking with Santa Claus. The base phone number was printed by mistake in a Sears newspaper ad and children placing calls to Santa were actually connected to the base, where base personnel played along.
DREAMIN' OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS?
A new survey asked men and women to name their dream gifts, AND the gifts they hate the most. Here are the results . . . plan the rest of your shopping and frantic gift returning accordingly.
The top five gifts women want the most:
#1.) Designer shoes.
#2.) A designer coat.
#3.) A pet.
#4.) A designer purse.
#5.) Jewelry.
The five gifts women DON'T want:
#1.) Household items.
#2.) Gift cards.
#3.) Champagne.
#4.) A gym membership.
#5.) A kitchen appliance.
The top five gifts MEN want the most:
#1.) Season tickets to their favorite sports team, preferably football.
#2.) An iPad.
#3.) An expensive watch.
#4.) A designer suit.
#5.) Gardening equipment.
The five gifts men DON'T want:
#1.) A tie.
#2.) Socks.
#3.) A shirt.
#4.) A book.
#5.) Cufflinks.
(Source: Female First)
WE'RE NOW TAKING THE LONGEST SHOWERS IN HISTORY
A new study finds the average person takes an eight-minute shower. That might not SOUND long, but that's the AVERAGE. And it's already three-fourths of the average BATH.
Read more
Why Didn't I Think of That?????
Calling all Griswold wannabee's...Some creative, original decorating by Patrick Kruger of Seattle! He cut the top of his Christmas Tree and attached it to his roof, making it look like the tree had broken through the ceiling! Wonder what he does at Easter?
Weird, But True News
You probably dont have any Christmas ornaments like the ones Lila Bawdon makes. Her decorations are crafted from something really organic moose poop. Bawdons adult daughter lives in Alaska and sends her South Dakota mom authentic Alaska moose droppings. Each dried dropping is about the size of an almond. Bawdon coats, paints and decorates the ornaments. She swears the moose poop ornaments are odor free. **Obviously they haven't turned the heat on in South Dakota. Whew!
Staying Healthy Today 
THE GERMIEST THINGS YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH EVERY DAY
Ranked according to which were found to be most contaminated:
Movie theatre seats (They have more germs than public bathroom surfaces.)
Gym equipment
Park benches
Bank countertops
The number 1 germiest thing: The rails and armrests on public buses
Before you start breathing easier, do you realize your desk at work is loaded with germs! The typical desk harbors 400 times more germs than the average toilet seat! And a cold virus can survive for 72 hours on your computer keyboard, telephone, or the handle on the office microwave.
Good News Story 
Want an onion for the holidays? It might not sound like a very good present -- but it sure beats a traffic ticket.
A Florida Keys police chief plays Grinch this time of year. Monroe County Chief Lou Caputo wears a Christmas Grinch costume as he clocks speeders. He gives drivers the option of an onion and a warning or a ticket. But only if they're not doing more than five miles per hour over the limit and not in a school zone.
Lar's Thought For the Day 
Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around
