Tim Phillips Show, 8/17/26

We're into the busy season for state fairs, and that means it's time for visitors to check out some of the wildest new food offerings. Whether it's banana cream fries at the Iowa State Fair, corn dog beer at the Indiana State Fair, or redneck nachos at the State Fair of West Virginia, now is the time to experience a tasty new treat — or at least see what new things have been dunked into a deep fryer. Here are some other highlights:

Parmesan Ice Cream (Iowa State Fair): A savory-sweet ice cream blending the rich, nutty flavor of aged Parmesan with smooth, creamy ice cream and layered with tart cherry and buttery pound cake.
 
Caviar & Chicken Nuggets (Iowa State Fair): Chicken nuggets topped with caviar in a rich crème fraiche sauce that will set you back $99.
 
Deep Fried Ranch (Wisconsin State Fair): A creamy filling made with ranch seasoning, cream cheese and buttermilk, and coated in a crispy deep fried panko shell dusted with ranch powder and served with a side of hot honey or more ranch for dipping.
 
The Wisconsinite Slush (Wisconsin State Fair): A dill pickle juice slushie, swirled it with zesty Tajin, and topped with two baby dill pickles, a Klement's beef stick, and creamy mozzarella cheese. 
 
Bacon Jalapeño Honey Bun Burger (Indiana State Fair): An angus burger served on toasted honey buns, pepper jack cheese, bacon, lettuce, onion, and candied jalapeños.
 
Grand Slam Mary (Indiana State Fair): The Bloody Mary cocktail features ballpark-inspired garnishes including a burger slider, hot dog slider, waffle fries, soft pretzel stick, Cracker Jacks, celery, lemon, and more. 

We've all heard that we shouldn't be doomscrolling on our devices when we're trying to go to sleep, but it's become a bedtime ritual for so many of us. There’s some pretty good evidence, though, that trading the screen for a book may be a much better way to end the day.

Sleep and brain health experts say reading before bed can help quiet a busy mind, reduce stimulation, and create a reliable cue that tells your body it is time to wind down. As sleep specialist Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse puts it, “When in doubt, go old-school,” with print books and basic e-readers among the best options for bedtime.

Here’s why swapping scrolling for a few pages may help you into sleep mode:

It gives your brain something calm to focus on instead of replaying conversations, worrying about tomorrow, or scrolling through endless content.
Print books and basic e-ink readers avoid the blue light, notifications, and constant novelty that can make phones and tablets harder to disengage from.
Reading does not directly make you sleepy, but it can reduce stress and help shift the body from an alert state toward a more relaxed one.
Doing it at the same time each night can turn reading into a consistent bedtime signal.
What you read matters too. Experts recommend choosing something interesting enough to hold your attention but not so suspenseful, stressful, or emotional that it keeps your brain revved up. So if your nightly routine currently ends with infinite scroll, a few pages of a book may be a better final chapter. Even a short reading ritual can be enough to help your brain get the message that the day is done.

Source: Real Simple

Monday Morning Mystery - JUST ANOTHER DREAM    CATHY DENNIS  #9   1990    

CATHY DENNIS    RICK ASTLEY    D'MOB

Born on 3/25/1969 in Norwich, Norfolk, England. White dance-pop singer/songwriter. Vocalist for D-Mob. Wrote Britney Spears' 2004 hit “Toxic” and Katy Perry‘s 2008 hit “I Kissed A Girl.”

Here’s one from the Millennials subreddit … What was your go-to after-school snack?

Some responses:

Bagel Bites
Hot Pockets
String cheese
Fruit Roll-ups
Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Peanut butter spread on saltines
Oscar Meyer bologna sandwich with mustard on white bread
Nacho cheese Bugles dipped in peanut butter
Dinner. We weren’t supposed to eat before dinner.
Shark Bites
Goldfish
Little Debbie’s snack cakes
Cosmic Brownies
Chocolate mini Hostess donuts with milk
Doritos
Ramen
Cheese quesadilla
Cereal

The latest relationship trend making the rounds online is the "7-7-7 Rule", a simple guideline aimed at helping couples stay connected. The idea is to plan a date night every 7 days, a special outing or overnight stay every 7 weeks, and an extended getaway every 7 months. Relationship experts say it's less about strictly following the numbers and more about making quality time a priority. The goal is to avoid letting work, kids, schedules, and everyday routines push your relationship to the back burner. Supporters of the rule say regular shared experiences help couples stay connected, create new memories, and keep the relationship from slipping into autopilot. 
==
Forget free snacks and ping-pong tables. Workers say the real office perk is having time for a real lunch break. A new Talker Research survey found more than half of employees spend the entire workday indoors, and 85% admit they sometimes skip lunch altogether. Still, most workers say a real lunch break is important, and nearly 80% would prefer to eat outside if they could. Those who do take lunch outdoors report feeling happier, more focused, and better able to recharge. The catch? Even on break, many are still glued to their phones, checking messages, scrolling social media, or catching up on work. But despite all that screen time, workers say they're making a bigger effort to get outside and get some fresh air.
==
According to a new study, men who drink more coffee every day show significantly higher total testosterone levels compared to those who drink little or no coffee — even after factoring in weight, smoking, exercise, and alcohol intake. The researchers also found that heavy coffee drinkers tended to have less body fat and more muscle mass. It's not clear if coffee actually boosts testosterone — or if guys with higher testosterone just happen to crave more coffee. But there certainly is a connection that will lead to further research.
==
LADbible says a Falling Waters, West Virginia couple with 37 kids haven't ruled out having more children. Paul and Jeane Briggs formed an international family by adopting children from Ukraine, Bulgaria and Ghana. Fourteen of the kids live in their 5,000-square-foot home. Everyone helps with chores.
==
The NY Post says a rescue pug from South Korea, named Jinny Lu, recently won the World’s Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California.  The pup traveled from Ukiah, California. Jinny entered the contest four times before winning.  She won $5,000 and earned a trip to New York City for an appearance on The Today Show.  The event promotes dog adoption and rescue.  
==
WFRV says a Fox Valley, Wisconsin cat recently set a new Guinness World Record by having 29 toes. The cat's name is Erebus Anomaly. The genetic trait that caused his condition, polydactyly, is a naturally occurring one in cats.
==
UPI says a fire at Forest Middle School, in Forest, Virginia, was recently started by an escaped python. Firefighters arrived after a 12:31 a.m. alarm and found eight classrooms damaged. The fire started when the python escaped its enclosure and knocked over a heat lamp. Crews safely secured the python into a temporary holding area until its owner arrived 
==
Guessing Headlights says a Brevard County, Florida man was recently stopped on I-95 for driving 117 mph. Omar Soliman changed lanes and tailgated. He told a deputy he was racing to Buc-ee’s to use the bathroom. The nearest Buc-ee’s was 60 miles away.  Soliman was booked for reckless driving and speeding. The police posted; “There were bathrooms at the jail, not quite as nice."
==
A neighborly dispute over dog poop in Florida ended with felony charges, which took it right out of “neighborly” territory. Deputies say Trey Decloedt, 35, of Leesburg had been in an ongoing feud with the couple next door over dog feces left on their shared driveways, and on August 7th, the argument boiled over when Decloedt, described as visibly irate, allegedly walked into the couple's home without permission, holding dog poop in his hand. He started yelling, then threw the feces at the husband, hitting him. When the husband tried to push him out, the two ended up fighting in the carport, where deputies say Decloedt struck the man in the head and then lifted a metal child's scooter over his head in a menacing way. Decloedt was charged with aggravated battery, burglary with assault or battery, and simple battery, and posted bond.