10/1/25 - Reading Rainbow, McMonopoly, and State of Steak!

Wednesday 10/1/25

Rabbit Rabbit! Happy October!

Celebrate:

Balloons Around the World Day

CD Player Day

Homemade Cookie Day

International Coffee Day

International Day of Older Persons

International Music Day

International Raccoon Appreciation Day

International Walk to School Day

Less Than Perfect Day

Model T Day

National Black Dog Day

National BOOK IT! Day

National Fire Pup Day

National Green City Day

National Hair Day

National Kale Day

National Lace Day

National Pumpkin Seed Day

National Pumpkin Spice Day

Random Acts of Poetry Day

World Vegetarian Day

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McDonald's just announced that they're bringing back their "Monopoly" game next week for the first time in 10 YEARS.  You know, where you peel off the stickers, and try to collect groups of "Monopoly" properties.

Now, I know what you're thinking:  I watched a documentary on it andiIsn't that a SCAM?  Well, yes . . . yes, it is.

"McMillions", was about how the McDonald's Monopoly game was rigged between 1995 and 2001. It's an unbelievably good doc.

McDonald's has the approximate odds of winning various prizes buried in the official rules, and they are pretty wild.  Here are a few:

1.  A free small fry, 1-in-25. 

It should be noted that your chances of winning ANY menu item are better . . . roughly 1-in-5.  So, if you go a few times during the game, you'll probably earn a free food item, a soft drink, a vanilla cone, or a coffee.

2.  The individual menu items (including the sandwiches and the McNuggets) have odds between 1-in-25 and 1-in-98.  The LONGEST odds are actually for "two chocolate chip cookies" or a "mini McFlurry."

3.  You can also win "MyMcDonald's Rewards Points."  You have 1-in-133 odds of scoring a 1,500 point prize, which is worth roughly $2.50 . . . all the way up to a 1-in-1,591 chance of winning 6,000 points, which is worth about $10.00.

This time around, you WILL need to have the McDonald's app (and enroll in the loyalty program) to play.  You can earn physical and digital stickers . . . but even the physical ones need to be scanned into the app after peeling them.

4. Here are some of the bigger prizes:

1 in 59 million . . . an Audio-Technica Turntable Bundle, worth $500.

1 in 153 million . . . a 77-inch Samsung TV from Best Buy, worth $3,700.

1 in 2.6 billion (billion???). . . a $10,000 Lowe's shopping spree.

1 in 3 billion . . . a VIP trip for four to the Kennedy Space Center, worth $10K.

1 in 4 billion . . . a trip for four to Universal Orlando, worth $5,000.

1 in 6 billion . . . a 2026 Winnebago RV motorhome, worth $250,000.

1 in 11 billion . . . a Polaris vehicle, worth more than $30,000.

1 in 13 billion . . . 1 million American Airlines miles, worth about $25,000.

1 in 13 billion . . . a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee, worth $52,000.

1 in 60 billion . . . a vacation for four to a destination like Paris, London, Tokyo, Barcelona, or Maui.  It's worth $50,000. 

There are also dozens of long-shot "instant" prizes available in the app.  They range from $20 gift cards to Uber Eats and Ulta Beauty to $1 million in cash.

Your odds of winning a full-on Powerball jackpot are 1-in-292.2 million.

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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have SPLIT after 19 years of marriage.  Divorce papers were delivered yesterday.

A source says, quote, "Sometimes relationships just run their course," adding that Nicole, quote, "did not want the separation and was trying to save things."

Nicole and Keith have allegedly been living apart since the beginning of summer. 

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There was a time when some people considered it a "badge of honor" to show up to work, even when they were under the weather.  But now, we just want those who are sick to stay home.

In a new survey, 86% of people say they feel concerned about their own health when a coworker comes to work visibly sick.

And 42% admit that their relationship with a coworker would be "negatively affected" if that person knowingly showed up sick.  64% of those people say they consider it SELFISH if someone shows up to work sick.

Younger people are more likely to feel this way.

And naturally, the pandemic had a big effect.  57% say their "expectations of others changed since then" . . . when it became clear that some people cared a lot about not getting those around them sick, and others . . . not so much.

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"Reading Rainbow" is back, yo! But LeVar Burton is not.

They're going with a new, younger host by the name of Mychel Threets. . . although he's going by his TikTok handle, Mychal the Librarian.  He's the resident librarian for PBS Kids.

And there will be celebrity guests, including Gabrielle Union, Adam DeVine, Chrissy Teigen, and John Legend.

There's no word on an airdate.

The original "Reading Rainbow" ran from 1983 to 2006, with reruns airing through 2009.

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The food company Cargill just released its first ever "State of Steak" report, looking at when, where, and how Americans eat their steak at restaurants.

It found there are only FOUR main cuts we eat now . . . plus one more.  But if the fifth one is your favorite, you're officially OLD.

1.  Ribeyes are the most-ordered steak in America.  52% of us would order one at a restaurant.  Sirloin is next at 46% . . . then filet mignon, 45% . . . and New York strip, 43%.

2.  Boomers love prime rib.  It's another popular choice at restaurants.  But prime rib's key demo skews older.  Seniors are more likely to order it.

3.  On the grill is our favorite way to cook it.  And it's not even close.  73% of Americans say it's their preferred method.

4.  Your next steak probably won't be at a fancy restaurant.  Over 90% of steak dinners are ordered at "casual chains" now, like Outback, Applebee's, or Texas Roadhouse. 

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Today starts many people's Scary Movie marathons!

If you need any ideas, "People" magazine teamed up with an astrologer to pair Halloween movies with each Zodiac sign.  Here are the highlights:

1.  Aries: "Friday the 13th" . . . "The film's high energy and intensity resembles that of this Fire sign."

2.  Taurus:  "Scream" . . . "Sidney Prescott's ability to remain calm under pressure is very aligned with this Earth sign."

3.  Gemini:  "Hocus Pocus" . . . "Much like this child-like Air sign, this movie is full of mischief, witty lines, and chaos between siblings."

4.  Cancer:  "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" . . . "This heartwarming and nostalgic [movie] is the perfect Halloween film for the sentimental Water sign."

5.  Leo:  "Halloweentown" . . . "This Disney Channel classic captures [Leo's] playful, colorful dramatics perfectly."

6.  Virgo:  "Ghostbusters" . . ."The problem-solvers of the zodiac, this Earth sign is practical, smart and resourceful, and the Ghostbusters crew's approach is very Virgoan."

7.  Libra:  "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" . . . "Libras can be as over-the-top and scandalous."

8.  Scorpio:  "Halloween" . . . "The film takes place during Scorpio season, and Michael Myers embodies this sign's tenacity, because he's basically unstoppable."

9.  Sagittarius:  "Beetlejuice" . . . "The film's eccentricity and chaotic spirit is larger than life and reflects this Fire sign's love for freedom."

10.  Capricorn:  "The Addams Family" . . . "The deadpan humor and gothic aesthetic is also very Saturnian in its coldness and hysterical apathy."  (Saturn is the ruling planet for Capricorn.)

11.  Aquarius:  "The Nightmare Before Christmas" . . . "The perfect movie for innovative and quirky Aquarius placements . . . Jack's eternal longing for progress is classic Aquarius."

12.  Pisces:  "Casper" . . . "This movie leans into this Water sign's love for fantasy . . . The only thing more delusional than falling in love with a ghost is living in a house with one."

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Today's Useless Fact of the Day - The urine of a diabetic contains so much sugar . . . that it can be purified and made into a high-end single malt whiskey. (this is no way is a dare...don't do this)

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