It's Thursday!

Happy Thursday to you, and Happy Birthday to Jimmy! First, the biggest news of the day at the Meissner House:

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It's Jimmy's 2nd birthday!!!!




Today is my second-ever Happy Birthday. Hooray for me!








Even though it's my birthday, I'll have the usual Daddy: Bananas and milk.








All done!









I'm the toddler. Gotta love me!









No matter the occasion, breakfast always ends with a cookie.








Now for some Dinosaur Train on PBS. It's a good warm-up until Elmo comes on!





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What? You say there's actually other stuff going on in the world? Well, okay then, here we go....

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Hockey Playoff Roundup ----

NHL:

Last night --

Stanley Cup Finals

No games

Tonight --

No games

(Note: Chicago hosts Philadelphia in games one and two this coming Saturday and Monday on NBC.)

AHL

Last night --

Western Conference Finals

Texas 4, Hamilton 2 (Texas wins series 4-3)

(Note: Hershey defeated Manchester 4-2 in Eastern Conference finals. Calder Cup Finals start on June 3rd in Hershey)

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Story about Texas's game 7 win over Hershey.

From the Austin Statesman.

From the Hamilton Spectator.

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Today is National Grape Popsicle Day.

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CFL, CFLPA agree on deal to avoid lockout.

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In Brighton, Colorado an 85-year-old graduated high school. He had to drop out to fight in World War II. In Falkville, Alabama, a 95-year-old also graduated high school. She never finished because budget cuts during the Depression shut her school.

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Adrian Beltre went 4-for-5 with 2 homers and 6 RBIs last night, as the Boston Red Sox swept their three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays, winning 11-3 in front of 22,147 at Tropicana Field.

Beltre belted a solo homer in the top of the second for Boston, but Hank Blalock scored on a fielder's choice in the bottom half of the inning for the Rays, tying the game 1-1.

Belre homered again in the top of the third, bringing in Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis, but Tampa Bay responded in the bottom of the fourth, as Carlos Pena scored on a Reid Brignac single, leaving the Red Sox lead at 4-2.

David Ortiz brought Pedroia home on a two-run homer in the fifth, then, in the ninth, Beltre tripled in Ortiz and Youkilis, Jeremy Hermida singled in Beltre, and Darnell McDonald's two-out double plated Hermida and Mike Camero to put the game away for Boston. Ben Zobrist's one out solo homer in the bottom of the ninth for the Rays, made the final score 11-3.

Jon Lackey allowed 2 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings for the win for the Red Sox, he's now 5-3. Tampa Bay's Matt Garza was roughed up for 6 earned runs in five innings, falling to 5-3 on the year.

The Rays, now 32-15 and 3 1/2 games up on the Yankees in the A.L. East, host the Chicago White Sox tonight at 7:10pm EDT on 620AM WDAE and Sun Sports, in the first of a four-game set. Game time is also 7:10EDT Friday and Saturday, with Sunday's game starting at 1:40pm EDT.

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United Airlines is looking into why a passenger was left sleeping on a plane after it arrived in Philadelphia. The plane landed at 12:30am and the passenger slept until a cleaning crew woke them up at 3:50am.

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New research shows women are primarily responsible for clipping coupons but men take an interest when you mix coupons with tech.

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On this day in history:

May 27

1647
The first recorded execution of a witch reportedly took place in Massachusetts when Achsah Young was hanged.

1703
St. Petersburg was founded by Czar Peter the Great.

1936
The Queen Mary left England on its maiden voyage, arriving in France four hours later.

1937
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco opened.

1941
British ships sank the German battleship Bismarck off the coast of France, resulting in the loss of 2,300 lives.

1994
Nobel-prize winning dissident, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn returned to Russia after 20 years in exile.

1996
After a year and a half of bloodshed, Russian President Boris Yeltsin met with the leader of the Chechen rebels and negotiated a cease-fire.

1999
Slobodan Milosevic was indicted by the International War Crimes Tribunal at the Hague for crimes against humanity.

On this day in sports history:

1873
The first Preakness Stakes was won by Survivor.

1955
Norm Zauchin (Boston Red Sox) got 10 RBIs against the Senators.

1968
After 48 years as coach of the Chicago Bears, George Halas retired.

1982
Three New Jersey businessmen bought the NHL's Colorado Rockies. They got approval to move the team to New Jersey and become the Devils.

1987
Phil Niekro (New York Yankees) became the third pitcher to make 700 starts.

2003
It was announced that Patrick Roy (Colorado Avalanche) would announce his retirement from the NHL the following day.

Today in music history:

1822
Composer Josef Joachim Raff was born.

1950
Frank Sinatra made his TV debut on NBC's "Star-Spangled Review."

1957
"That'll be the Day" by the Crickets was released.

1961
Johnny Cash appeared on NBC's "The Deputy."

1962
Bob Dylan released "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan."

1964
Eleven boys were suspended at a Coventry, England, school for having a hair style like Mick Jagger.

1967
Columbia and RCA Victor announced that they would raise the list price of mono albums by a dollar on June 1. It was the first increase since 1953.

1983
Metallica finished recording the album "Kill 'Em All."

1987
During a show in Rome's Flaminio Stadio, U2's sound system set off earthquake alarms in two neighborhoods.

1988
Van Halen's "Monster Of Rock" touring festival opened at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Wisconsin.

1989
Stevie Wonder was given the Badge Of Solidarity from the Polish Labor Movement in Warsaw.

2003
Liza Minelli sang an a cappella version of "Liza With a Z" with Luciano Pavarotti live via satellite for a charity show on Italian television. She had been hospitalized two days early after falling and breaking her right kneecap.


Today's birthdays:

1794
Cornelius Vanderbilt(American shipping magnate)

1837
Wild Bill Hickock(Wild west character)

1894
Dashiell Hammett(American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories)

1911
Vincent Price(American actor)

1911
Hubert H. Humphrey(US Senator from Minnesota and US Vice President)

1922
Christopher Lee(British actor)

1923
Henry Kissinger(US Secretary of State, Nobel Peace Prize recipient)

1935
Ramsey Lewis(Jazz musician)

1935
Lee Ann Merriwether(Miss America 1955)

1936
Louis Gossett, Jr.(American actor)

1939
Don Williams(Country singer - "I Believe in You")

1943
Bruce Weitz(American actor - Belker on Hill Street Blues)

1945
Bruce Cockburn(American singer/songwriter)

1955
Richard Schiff(American actor - The West Wing)

1957
Eddie Harsch(The Black Crowes)

1957
Siouxsie Sioux(Siouxsie & the Banshees)

1958
Neil Finn(Crowded House)

1961
Cathy Silvers(Jenny Piccolo on Happy Days)

1965
Todd Bridges(American actor - Willis on Diff'rent Strokes)

1966
Sean Kinney(Alice in Chains)

1969
Dondre Whitfield(American actor - All My CHildren)

1974
Danny Wuerffel(NFL quarterback - New Orleans Saints)

1984
Blake Ahearn(NBA basketball player - Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs)

1985
Chien-Ming Chiang(Taiwanese baseball player - Yomiuri Giants)

2008
Jimmy Meissner(My son)


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Ya like to start your day with today's country music? Then, check out Radio Ray Bartley on Longview/Kelso Washington's 105.5FM KUKN Radio. He's keepin' it hot for you!

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In TV news:

Former paint salesman Lee DeWyze was the surprise winner of "American Idol" on Wednesday, beating front-runner Crystal Bowersox on a night that saw the talent show's former champions reunite to bid farewell to Simon Cowell. DeWyze, a 24-year-old Chicago native, won the coveted title and a recording contract after a nationwide phone and text vote based on the contestants' performances the night before. More here.

Art Linkletter, who encouraged both kids and grownups to say the "darndest things" during his decades as a genial but gently mischievious television personality, has died at age 97. The host of "People Are Funny" and "House Party" of the 1950s and '60s died Wednesday at his home in the Bel-Air section of Los Angeles. More here.


Disney/ABC TV Group is shutting down decade-old cable channel SoapNet to make room for a new kids channel. More here.

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That's it for today. Now, go have fun and celebrate Jimmy's birthday with me. See you tomorrow.

More on the Lightning's hiring of Steve Yzerman as General Manager

More of yesterday's hiring of Steve Yzerman as the new General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning, from TampaBay.com.

By picking Tampa Bay, Yzerman revives hockey faith.

Hiring of Steve Yzerman as Tampa Bay Lightning GM, changes owner's plans.


Steve Yzerman's hiring as Tampa Bay Lightning GM is sad day for Red Wings owner.


Tampa Bay Lightning welcomes new GM Steve Yzerman.


What they're saying about new Lightning GM Steve Yzerman.


From the Detroit Free Press.


Also from the Detroit Free Press.

It's Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday, just one more day 'til Jimmy's birthday. Here's what's happening....

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Hockey Playoff Roundup ----

NHL:

Last night --

Stanley Cup Finals

No games

Tonight --

No games

(Note: Chicago hosts Philadelphia in games one and two this coming Saturday and Monday on NBC.)

AHL

Last night --

Western Conference Finals

No games

Tonight --

Texas at Hamilton 7:30pm EDT (Series tied 3-3)

(Note: Hershey defeated Manchester 4-2 in Eastern Conference finals)

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Stanley Cup Finals preview from NHL.com.

Marian Hossa hopes third time's the charm.

Rejects got Flyers where they are.

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Shuttle Atlantis makes successful touchdown this morning at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on what was likely the last mission in it's 25 years of service.

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From http://www.riderville.com

The Saskatchewan Roughriders announced today they have signed import quarterbacks Ryan Dinwiddie and Todd Reesing to contracts. Financial details of the contracts were not released.

Dinwiddie (6’1 – 195 lbs) played three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers after signing as a free agent with the team in 2006. During that time, the 29-year old completed 207 of 417 pass attempts for 1,581 yards and six touchdowns. At Boise State, Dinwiddie was a three-year starter and a two time first team All-Western Athletic Conference all-star. He set school career records for passing yards, completions, and attempts. Dinwiddie finished his time at Boise State with an impressive 168.89 passer rating after completing 662 of 992 pass attempts for 9,819 yards and 82 touchdowns.

Reesing (5’11 – 200 lbs) spent four seasons playing at Kansas University where he completed 313 of 496 pass attempts for 3,616 yards and 22 touchdowns in his senior year. He finished his collegiate career completing 932 of 1,461 pass attempts for 11,194 yards and 90 touchdowns. The 22-year-old led his team to a 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl victory over Virginia and also led his team to victory in the 2008 Insight Bowl. Reesing was named to the Academic All-Big 12 First Team.

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Today in Elvis History:

1962 - Elvis Presley's single "Good Luck Charm" hit #1 in the U.K.

1963 - Elvis Presley recorded "(You're The) Devil In Disguise."

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The Boston Red Sox made it two in a row last night, blanking the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 in front of 24,310 at Tropicana Field.

The only scoring came in the top of the third, as David Ortiz drove in J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis with a two-out double. Jon Lester fanned 9 in six scoreless innings, allowing the Rays the only hit they would get on the entire night, a one-out single by Willy Aybar in the fourth inning. He improved to 5-2. Jonathon Papelbon pitched the ninth and earned his 11th save. James Shields pitched eight solid innings, allowing just the two earned runs on four hits, with five strike outs. He's also 5-2 on the year.

The Rays host Boston again tonight at 7:10pm EDT on 620AM WDAE, Sun Sports and MLB.TV. It's the final of the three-game set. The White Sox come to town for four games starting tomorrow.

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Also in Elvis History on this date in 1994, Pop star Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley were married in the Dominican Republic. (They were divorced 19 months later. Apparently, some people reach forever quicker than others. And, it was also proof that Elvis was really dead. If his baby girl marrying a freak-show wasn't enough to get his peanut butter-'nana eating fanny out of hiding, then nothing was!)

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Tomorrow is my two-year old Happy Birthday Day. Yay for me!!!!

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A Florida home improvement project came to a buzzing halt when a large hive housing thousands of bees was discovered. A bee trapper brought in said the hive measured 6 feet long and 4 feet wide.

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The 2014 Super Bowl will be played outside at the new Meadowlands Stadium. It will be the first open-air stadium in a cold-weather region to host a Super Bowl. (Could Green Bay be far behind? I hope so! How can you NOT hold the title game in Title Town?)

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In TV news:

The season finale of American Idol airs tonight on Fox. Simon Cowell will say goodbye. Carrie Underwood, Christina Aguilera and others will perform. There's a rumor that Paula Abdul will appear in a tribute to Simon.

Nicole Scherzinger and partner Derek Hough dominated throughout the 10th season of the hit ABC show and bested Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek to win the "Dancing with the Stars" crown Tuesday night.

CBS on Tuesday claimed an early victory as the most-watched U.S. television network for the 7th time in eight years in the 2009-10 prime-time season, which ends this week.

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That's it for today. Now, go out there, have fun and keep it between the navigational beacons. See you tomorrow.

Lightning name Yzerman as G.M.

Tampa Bay Lightning have named Steve Yzerman as it's new General Manager this afternoon.

The Lightning's official release.

Read more here.

And here.

Yzerman had this to say.

It's Tuesday!

Happy Tuesday, just two more days 'til Jimmy's birthday. Here's what's happening....

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Hockey Playoff Roundup ----

NHL:

Last night --

Eastern Conference Finals

Philadelphia 4, Montreal 2 (Philadelphia wins series 4-1)

(Note: Chicago wins Western Conference Finals 4-0 over San Jose)

AHL

Last night --

Western Conference Finals

Texas 3, Hamilton 2, OT (Series tied 3-3)

Tonight --

No games

(Note: Hershey defeated Manchester 4-2 in Eastern Conference finals)

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The National Hockey League announced today the schedule for the 2010 Stanley Cup Final between the Western Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks and the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Flyers.

Based on their superior regular-season performance, the Blackhawks will host Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, as well as Games 5 and 7, if necessary. Games 3 and 4 will be in Philadelphia, as well as Game 6, if necessary.

NBC will telecast Games 1 and 2 and, if necessary, Games 5 through 7 of the best-of-seven series in the U.S., while VERSUS will broadcast Games 3 and 4. In Canada, CBC and RDS will provide coverage for the entire series. All games also will be carried on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.

NHL Network, the League's 24-hour, all-access pass to the most comprehensive hockey coverage, will feature special programming surrounding the Stanley Cup Final. NHL.com will continue to provide extensive digital coverage.

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Here's a list of teams that have won the Calder Cup, the American Hockey League's championship trophy.

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Today is National Brown-Bag-It Day.

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The Boston Red Sox plated 6 runners in the second, third and fourth innings last night, cruising to a 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, in front of just 21,430 fans at Tropicana Field.

David Ortiz hit a solo homer in the second for the Bosox and Kevin Youkilis belted a two-run shot in the fourth to lead Boston. The Rays got their only run in the fourth on a Carlos Pena homer.

Clay Buckholz got the win, he's 6-3. Wade Davis took the loss, he's now 4-4.

Tampa Bay is now 32-13, and now 5 1/2 games ahead of the Yankees, 6 games ahead of Toronto, 7 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox and 18 games ahead of Baltimore in the A.L. East.

The Rays host Boston again tonight at 7:10pm EDT on 620AM WDAE, Sun Sports and MLB.TV.

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In suburban New York Sunday night a man bit another during a fight over a couple of dogs. Two dog owners got into it when one didn't like the way their pets were playing at a dog park. A third man tried to break up the fight and one of the combatants bit him on the wrist.

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Here's a list of the teams that have won the Stanley Cup.

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Philadelphia earned their first trip to the finals since 1997 with last night's 4-2 win over Montreal. They'll face Chicago, finalists for the first time since 1992, starting this Saturday and Monday in Chicago, 8:00pm EDT both nights on NBC. The Flyers last won the Cup in 1975 when they beat Buffalo. The Blackhawks last championship was in 1961, when they knocked off Detroit.

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In TV news:

Law & Order had its series finale Monday night. (The detectives made their final arrest, hauling Betty White in for overexposure.)

Lost's final show fell short of ratings expectations. The finale averaged only 13.5 million viewers.

Dancing with the Stars season finale is tonight. Thank goodness that freak Chad 85 isn't on. (Notice how Oregon State fans never claim him as one of their ex-players?)

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"Hi evvwybuddy. I gunna be too in too days. Can yoo com to my pardy?"

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That's it for today. Now, go out there and keep it safe and legal. See you tomorrow.

This just in....

The Stanley Cup Finals are set. Tonight, Philadelphia beat Montreal 3-2, winning the Eastern Conference Finals 4 games to 1. The Finals start this Saturday in Chicago.