Tim Phillips Show, 6/26/26
6:10
Most livable cities ... We’re all striving to find the best quality of life possible, and according to a new survey, that can be achieved by moving to Tokyo. Monocle has released its 2026 Quality of Life survey, ranking the world’s most livable cities, and Japan’s capital city is number one. The survey looks beyond economics to things like safety, culture, transportation, green space, and even whether you can get a good meal late at night. This year, European and Asian cities dominate the list, while most North American cities fall short due to crime, inequality, and housing pressures. Here are the 10 most livable cities in the world:
Tokyo, Japan
Copenhagen, Denmark
Lisbon, Portugal
Vienna, Austria
Sydney, Australia
Zurich, Switzerland
Madrid, Spain
Paris, France
Munich, Germany
Oslo, Norway
6:30
Friday Flashback - SUNDOWN GORDON LIGHTFOOT 1974
YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW, IF YOU LOVE ME, ROCK THE BOAT
The Rubik’s Cube
Post-It Notes
The UPC bar code
Bailey’s Irish Cream
The Heimlich Maneuver
Stephen King’s first novel “Carrie”
Connect Four
Skittles
Modern liposuction
Dayquil
Dungeons & Dragons
“People” magazine
Source: Mental Floss
IRA begins bombing campaign on mainland Britain
Richard Nixon becomes the first US president forced to resign after the Watergate Scandal
Rumble in the Jungle
The Kootenai Native American Tribe in Idaho declares war on the United States
Stephen King, a 26-year-old author, published his debut novel “Carrie,”
President Gerald Ford gives unconditional pardon to Richard Nixon
Lucy an almost complete hominid skeleton over 3 million years old is discovered in Africa
55 MPH Speed Limit imposed to preserve gas usage US wide
Sears Tower in Chicago becomes the worlds tallest building
The Global Recession Deepens
Ford Galaxie 500 $3,883
Tomatoes 19 cents per pound
Boneless Hams $2.29 per pound
Portable TV $264.88
Dozen Medium Eggs 28 cents
Cassette Recorder $49.95
Combo Toaster and Mini-Oven $24.99
We were buying: fur caps, velvet purses, velour suits, computer watches, calculators, Winnie The Pooh, Twister
Men's shirt From $12.99
Popular Films
The Sting
The Exorcist
Papillon
Herbie Rides Again
Blazing Saddles
The Great Gatsby
Serpico
Death Wish
The Godfather, Part II
Murder on the Orient Express
Popular TV Programs
Kung Fu
The Price Is Right
The Waltons
Kojak
Last of the Summer Wine
The Six Million Dollar Man
7:15
Summer and road trips go hand-in-hand, with 72% of Americans planning to take one this year and a third expecting to take more than one. Choosing where to go can get tricky, especially if you’re trying to stick to a budget, but a new report from WalletHub can help with the destination decision.
Their annual list of the Best States for Summer Road Trips has just come out.
They rated all 50 states on 32 key metrics to find the most fun, scenic and wallet-friendly road-trip destinations.
WalletHub compared states on everything from the number of attractions to road conditions and the average cost of gas and accommodations.
With all that in mind, they’ve named Minnesota as the best state for summer road trips in 2026.
It’s great for people who want to be outdoors, as it has the fourth-highest spending per capita on parks and recreation, as well as the fourth-most fairs and festivals per capita during the summer.
Driving is also safe in Minnesota, which has the second-fewest vehicle fatalities per million miles traveled.
Louisiana, third overall, is number one for cost, while Maine, seventh overall, is first for safety, and California, 47th overall, ranks highest for activities.
On the flip side, this year’s worst state for a summer road trip is Rhode Island, followed by Delaware and Connecticut.
The 10 Best Road-Trip Destinations for Summer ( Montana is 42, North Dakota is 29, South Dakota 25, Idaho 11, Wyoming 15)
(Click here to see the full list)
Minnesota
Utah
Louisiana
New York
Florida
Texas
Maine
Georgia
North Carolina
Ohio
Source: WalletHub
7:30
Tim's News You Can't Use
WGN says a new bill is calling for the minimum wage in the United States to be raised to $25 an hour. That's a major jump from the current rate of $7.25 an hour. Research shows $25 an hour would be enough for a single working adult, without kids, to live. There are 14 states where $25 an hour won't be enough.
==
Microsoft says it is raising Xbox console prices starting August 1st. The price of 512GB models will increase by $100 while the price of 1TB models will increase by $150. Microsoft will discontinue its 2 TB model. The company says the price hike is due to the ongoing global memory and storage shortage. Xbox previously raised prices twice last year.
==
A zoo in central China has gone viral with a job ad looking for people to pose as black bears
Luohe Wildlife Zoo in Henan province posted the listing on June 13th, offering an annual salary of 100,000 yuan, about $15,000, to wear soft bear costumes, roam the grounds, and play with visitors
The "bear players" can purr but must stay silent, unless they need help or there is an emergency
==
Sporked says GoodPop’s Fudge n’ Vanilla French Fry ice cream is trending. It is back for the Summer of 2026. The salty and sweet mix has people curious. The French fry ice cream debuted in 2024 and quickly sold out. It is mainly found at Whole Foods
==
Snoop Dogg is cooling things down this summer with the launch of the Snoopsicle, a new raspberry, cherry, and lime sherbet pop from his Dr. Bombay creamery that's now available at select Costco stores just in time for the Fourth of July. The frozen treat is made with real fruit juice, contains no artificial colors, and comes in 24-count boxes for $14.99. Dr. Bombay, which Snoop founded with his son Cordell Broadus, was inspired by Snoop's father's dairy farm roots and already offers a lineup of creative ice cream flavors, with the Snoopsicle becoming its first popsicle.
==
For the first time, the International Olympic Committee is going to start paying athletes who participate in the games. The IOC announced that they will start with those who competed at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games in February. Olympians will be eligible for a $10,000 "grant" as long as they have not violated anti-doping rules or IOC's ethics rules. About 14,000 athletes are expected to be eligible for the $140 million payout per Olympic cycle.
==
The British heavy machinery company JCB has shattered the world land speed record for a modified tractor. The "Fastrac Two" reached a top speed of 153.8 miles per hour. To get the five-ton machine rolling at such high speeds, engineers installed a turbocharged 7.2-liter diesel engine pumping out 1016 horsepower, a 3D-printed exhaust system that handles temperatures up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, and advanced aerodynamics, making the Fastrac Two look more like a bullet train than a farm tractor. To stop this monster, the tractor is equipped with heavy-duty disc brakes and is backed up by an emergency parachute just in case things go sideways.
==
Over in France, government health officials are banning the sale of alcohol at outdoor events during extreme weather. The booze bans — in "red alert" zones — are in place to help emergency services avoid being overloaded by cases of dehydration, heatstroke, drowning, and accidents. With the World Cup going on this summer — and with matches being played in some warm weather cities — there has been some chatter about following the lead of the French and banning booze here in North America as well.
==
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office in California pulled off a “nationwide first” by using a specialized drone to disarm an armed suspect. The cops were dealing with a suspect hiding inside a cluttered garage. When he refused to cooperate with negotiators, drone pilots flew a quadcopter right into the building. Using a high-powered magnet attached to the bottom of the drone, the pilot snatched a knife directly out of the suspect's hand and flew it right back to waiting deputies. No muss. No fuss.
==
Local 21 News says a Gettysburg, Pennsylvania man recently used a crossbow to rob a fireworks store. The man was dressed in all black with a ski mask. He's left the area in a silver sedan. Officers are looking for the man. They say he fled with an unknown amount of money from the store’s safe
==
Guessing Headlights says a Cape Coral, Florida man was recently arrested for driving recklessly and fleeing from the police on foot. Shaheem Preston was found hiding in a car wash. He showed signs of impairment and refused field sobriety tests. Officers found several liquor bottles in his vehicle and noted his license was suspended. Preston was charged with refusal to submit to DUI testing, driving with a suspended license, resisting arrest without violence, and careless driving
==
A bungled robbery in Tobago has turned its would-be crooks into internet memes. Police in Trinidad and Tobago said Wednesday they are hunting for a group of robbers caught on camera using a backhoe to try to steal a cash machine, only to botch the movie-style heist spectacularly. Security footage shows at least four suspects fumbling around, including one who looked just like Batman in black clothing, a ski mask, and a poncho that billowed like a cape. That person tripped over debris and fell while trying to direct the backhoe. The crew managed to drag the cash machine to the sidewalk using the backhoe, which they had stolen from a nearby beach. But the machine's arm broke, and they could not lift the cash machine onto a small truck, so they gave up and sped off in a stolen car after more than 10 minutes of effort. The video went viral, sparking memes, mocking radio callers, and a newspaper headline reading "Batman and robbing."WGN says a new bill is calling for the minimum wage in the United States to be raised to $25 an hour. That's a major jump from the current rate of $7.25 an hour. Research shows $25 an hour would be enough for a single working adult, without kids, to live. There are 14 states where $25 an hour won't be enough.
==
Microsoft says it is raising Xbox console prices starting August 1st. The price of 512GB models will increase by $100 while the price of 1TB models will increase by $150. Microsoft will discontinue its 2 TB model. The company says the price hike is due to the ongoing global memory and storage shortage. Xbox previously raised prices twice last year.
==
A zoo in central China has gone viral with a job ad looking for people to pose as black bears
Luohe Wildlife Zoo in Henan province posted the listing on June 13th, offering an annual salary of 100,000 yuan, about $15,000, to wear soft bear costumes, roam the grounds, and play with visitors
The "bear players" can purr but must stay silent, unless they need help or there is an emergency
==
Sporked says GoodPop’s Fudge n’ Vanilla French Fry ice cream is trending. It is back for the Summer of 2026. The salty and sweet mix has people curious. The French fry ice cream debuted in 2024 and quickly sold out. It is mainly found at Whole Foods
==
Snoop Dogg is cooling things down this summer with the launch of the Snoopsicle, a new raspberry, cherry, and lime sherbet pop from his Dr. Bombay creamery that's now available at select Costco stores just in time for the Fourth of July. The frozen treat is made with real fruit juice, contains no artificial colors, and comes in 24-count boxes for $14.99. Dr. Bombay, which Snoop founded with his son Cordell Broadus, was inspired by Snoop's father's dairy farm roots and already offers a lineup of creative ice cream flavors, with the Snoopsicle becoming its first popsicle.
==
For the first time, the International Olympic Committee is going to start paying athletes who participate in the games. The IOC announced that they will start with those who competed at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games in February. Olympians will be eligible for a $10,000 "grant" as long as they have not violated anti-doping rules or IOC's ethics rules. About 14,000 athletes are expected to be eligible for the $140 million payout per Olympic cycle.
==
The British heavy machinery company JCB has shattered the world land speed record for a modified tractor. The "Fastrac Two" reached a top speed of 153.8 miles per hour. To get the five-ton machine rolling at such high speeds, engineers installed a turbocharged 7.2-liter diesel engine pumping out 1016 horsepower, a 3D-printed exhaust system that handles temperatures up to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, and advanced aerodynamics, making the Fastrac Two look more like a bullet train than a farm tractor. To stop this monster, the tractor is equipped with heavy-duty disc brakes and is backed up by an emergency parachute just in case things go sideways.
==
Over in France, government health officials are banning the sale of alcohol at outdoor events during extreme weather. The booze bans — in "red alert" zones — are in place to help emergency services avoid being overloaded by cases of dehydration, heatstroke, drowning, and accidents. With the World Cup going on this summer — and with matches being played in some warm weather cities — there has been some chatter about following the lead of the French and banning booze here in North America as well.
==
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office in California pulled off a “nationwide first” by using a specialized drone to disarm an armed suspect. The cops were dealing with a suspect hiding inside a cluttered garage. When he refused to cooperate with negotiators, drone pilots flew a quadcopter right into the building. Using a high-powered magnet attached to the bottom of the drone, the pilot snatched a knife directly out of the suspect's hand and flew it right back to waiting deputies. No muss. No fuss.
==
Local 21 News says a Gettysburg, Pennsylvania man recently used a crossbow to rob a fireworks store. The man was dressed in all black with a ski mask. He's left the area in a silver sedan. Officers are looking for the man. They say he fled with an unknown amount of money from the store’s safe
==
Guessing Headlights says a Cape Coral, Florida man was recently arrested for driving recklessly and fleeing from the police on foot. Shaheem Preston was found hiding in a car wash. He showed signs of impairment and refused field sobriety tests. Officers found several liquor bottles in his vehicle and noted his license was suspended. Preston was charged with refusal to submit to DUI testing, driving with a suspended license, resisting arrest without violence, and careless driving
==
A bungled robbery in Tobago has turned its would-be crooks into internet memes. Police in Trinidad and Tobago said Wednesday they are hunting for a group of robbers caught on camera using a backhoe to try to steal a cash machine, only to botch the movie-style heist spectacularly. Security footage shows at least four suspects fumbling around, including one who looked just like Batman in black clothing, a ski mask, and a poncho that billowed like a cape. That person tripped over debris and fell while trying to direct the backhoe. The crew managed to drag the cash machine to the sidewalk using the backhoe, which they had stolen from a nearby beach. But the machine's arm broke, and they could not lift the cash machine onto a small truck, so they gave up and sped off in a stolen car after more than 10 minutes of effort. The video went viral, sparking memes, mocking radio callers, and a newspaper headline reading "Batman and robbing."
