One of Sarah’s cousins is going to be starting kindergarten in a couple of days, and boy is she excited!

Starting kindergartencan be both an exciting and anxious time for a child.  Early childhood education expert Dr. Mary Zurn says parents can make this a smooth transition by having consistent nighttime and morning routines established. 

Zurn is the vice president of early childhood education for Primrose Schools, which operates more than 200 preschools in 16 states.  She suggests parents begin following a consistent routine a couple weeks before school starts so every family member knows what needs to get done before heading out the door.  Before the first day of school, Zurn also encourages parents to arrange a visit with their kindergartner to the school and the child’s classroom. 

For tips and more inforamtion, visit http://www.drzandme.com/.  Her website features tips, suggestions, and a list of books to read with your child about starting kindergarten.

Mediterranean Diet Has Many Benefits

A healthy diet and exercise routine are not just good for your heart.  A new study shows they may also lower your risk of a debilitating brain disease.  A Columbia University study shows people who are physically active and follow the Mediterranean Diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables and fish, lowered their risk of Alzheimer’s Disease.  Cleveland Clinic geriatric expert Doctor Ronan Factora says the results show exercise, and the diet, has many benefits.

The study involved more than 18-hundred elderly people, who had their diet and physical activity assessed.  Researchers followed them on an average of five-and-a-half years and found exercise alone lowered the risk of Alzheimer’s by at least 30-percent.  Combining exercise with a Mediterranean Diet, and sticking to doing both, reduced the risk up to 44-percent.  Complete findings of the study are in the “Journal of American Medical Association.”

What makes your dog happy?

Sixty-two-percent of dog owners taking part in an ALPO dog food survey say their arrival home is the happiest time for their four-legged friend.  Being outside is another favorite dog activity, with 52-percent noting their pooch is pleased to go for runs or walks.  Treats are good, too.  Nearly 50-percent believe their dog is happiest when they get a biscuit, and 30-percent say chewing on a bone thrills Fido.   Dogs also enjoy their downtime.  Just over 30-percent say their pup is very happy to take naps on the couch.

Pictured to the right is my dog, Coconut.  She’s quite easy to please, actually.  Lately, she’s been into playing hide-and-go-seek with me.

To learn how to play hide-and-seek with your dog, check out this link.  Now, if only I could teach her to go and hide.  Any suggestions on that?  Feel free to comment below. 

• Something tells me that we’re going to be talking about the death of Michael Jackson for years to come!  The probe into the death of Michael Jackson continued on Tuesday as federal agents raided a Las Vegas pharmacy.  The DEA says the raid was conducted at Applied Pharmacy Services but a spokesman declined to comment whether the effort was related to Jackson’s personal doctor, Conrad Murray.  The doctor’s home and medical offices in Las Vegas and Houston were searched last month.   Earlier media reports quoted law enforcement sources as saying the agents were looking for computer hard drives and documents related to prescriptions written by Dr. Conrad Murray for Jackson or the singer’s aliases.  The pharmacy was also reportedly scoured for shipping information.On Monday, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office announced the autopsy report on the King of Pop had been completed but wouldn’t be released while the investigation into the entertainer’s death continued.

• Paula’s definitely gone, but at least we’ll still have Simon!   According to “The Hollywood Reporter,” Simon Cowell is finalizing a three-year deal to remain a judge on the show.  Robert Sillerman, the CEO and chairman of 19 Entertainment’s parent company CKX, says Fox has, quote, “asked us to pre-approve him not only for ‘American Idol’ ’09, which has begun taping, but they also asked us for approval for ’10 and ’11.”  Sillerman declined to discuss details, but the deal would reportedly pay Cowell 45-million-dollars.  He is making 36-million-dollars under his current contract.  This past spring, Cowell hinted that he may leave the show once his contract expired, but began negotiating a new deal with Fox at the start of summer. Who on earth could walk away from that gig, which pays over $35 million?!?  Not even Simon, it seems!

• Kelly Clarkson is gracing the cover of September’s “Self” magazine, and causing quite a stir in the process.  The magazine features a slimmed-down photo of the pop singer, and “Self’s” editor-in-chief, Lucy Danziger, is defending Clarkson’s digitally-enhanced figure.In a posting on Self.com Daniziger explains, quote, “Yes.  Of course we do retouching.  Did we alter her appearance?  Only to make her look her personal best.”  She adds, quote, “I think this photo is the truest we have ever put out there on the newsstand.”  Despite Danziger’s explanation, several readers are still unhappy with “Self’s” portrayal of Clarkson.  One reader asks on jezebel.com, quote, “Why even bother asking Kelly Clarkson to pose in your magazine if you don’t think her body fit into your idea of what was best?”While Kelly Clarkson’s shape has been the topic of plenty of gossip, the pop starlet says she’s comfortable with the way she looks.  Clarkson tells “Self” magazine, quote, “I’m never trying to lose weight – or gain it.  I’m just being.”  “Self” magazine’s September issue hits newsstands on August 25th. 

Note from the webmaster…

Thanks for bearing with me as I work out the kinks in our new WordPress theme.  I’m using the free “Mainstream” theme from WooThemes.com and it looks like I still have a little bit of work to do to make it “my own.”  If you’re a WordPress guru and want to lend a hand, feel free to email me using the “Contact Rick” tab above.

Starting Monday (8/10), I’ll be moving to a new time slot on FRESH 105.9.  Instead of hosting afternoons, I’ll be covering the work-day shift, which means you can hear me between 10AM and 4PM.

My days of noon wakeup calls are over, so I guess I need to buy an alarm clock this weekend.

On Tuesday, CPS along with our beloved city crook, uh I mean mayor, Richard M. Daley, announced that CPS alum Jeremih, has joined the efforts to get Chicago youth back-to-school this fall.

I applaud CPS for their efforts, however their methods are flawed.  Jeremih’s claim to “fame” is his song, entitled “Birthday Sex,” which features the following lyrics:

“Girl you know I, don’t need candles and cake, just need your body to make Birthday Sex …

We ridin’ with passion cause it’s your birthday
Been at it for hours, i know you thirsty
you kiss me sweetly, taste just like hershey’s
Just tell me how you want you gift, girl”

Click here to read more.
For even more fun, check out the music video.

Real appropriate for these grade school age students, many under the age  of 18.  Of the millions of students who have attended Chicago Public Schools over the past century, was Jeremih really the greatest pop culture “icon” that you could come up with?

Official response from the district?  “Jeremih is a musician. His music is no different from all other music our kids listen to,” said Ron Huberman, CEO of Chicago Public Schools. “Kids are using social network sites like Twitter, MySpace and Facebook to communicate with one another, so it makes sense to have a young alumni like Jeremih use the site to reach out to students,” he said.

When asked about the CPS back-to-school initiative, Delilah Johnson, 22, a junior at DePaul University and 2005 alum of Percy L. Julian High School, had something great to say.  “If the teachers don’t expect anything better than what Jeremih is singing about in these lyrics, that’s an insult to us.”

Those against the ’Birthday Sex Back-to-School Drive’ are planning on protesting outside of CPS headquarters, schools, and facilities, which sounds like a fantastic idea to me.  However, others are out of their minds in my opinion, by encouraging parents to keep their kids out of schools as a result of this CPS debacle.  Encouraging kids to stay out of school is never a good idea.

So, what’s the solution?  CPS needs a new song!  May I make a suggestion?

• Well, it’s official!  No more texting while driving!  Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed into law a measure that will ban Illinois drivers from sending text messages while driving in an effort to cut down on distracted driving.  The law also prohibits drivers from reading texts, surfing the web, and downloading ring tones.Downloading ring tones?  Seriously?  Is downloading ring tones while driving really that big of an issue here in Illinois?
• Lollapalooza is on this weekend!  For complete Lolla coverage and information, click here.