If you have some trouble getting into your VIP account today to check your points, play some games or enter our contests – don’t worry. The VIP site will be down for a little while, but when it comes back up, it will be the brand-new “Fun Radio 92.9 Funhouse,” and we think you’re going to love it!

We’ve been hard at work creating the new Funhouse, and we’ve taken your suggestions and requests into account. We’re going to be offering more ways to win – and easier ways to win! We’ve got a ton of great prizes for you to play for, and it’s going to be so much easier to use!

Current members – don’t worry, all your points will move over seamlessly to the new Funhouse, so you won’t lose anything, and you won’t have to re-register. Your same username and password will get you in.

Here are some of the things we are most excited about:

• The Funhouse is now easier to find – just click on “The Funhouse” at the top of each page, or visit www.929thelake.com/vip.
• Your Funhouse points are now visible on every page on the site
• There are more ways than ever to earn points
• Our games are now even easier to play
• Even more prizes, and better prizes!

What’s up for grabs? How about an iPad 2? How about $1,000 toward the vacation of your dreams? How about a chance to be a guest DJ on The Gator 99.5 Breakfast Bunch? How about a Toshiba laptop? How about $500 IN CASH?

But it’s only available to those who have registered – and guess what – it won’t cost you anything but two minutes of your time to set everything up. We’ll even toss in 2,500 free points to get you started in playing our games!

We want to thank all of our listeners who are also Funhouse members! Thanks for making our site better, and thanks for listening to Fun Radio 92.9!

Mario Tama, Getty Images

Unless you live under a rock, this probably won’t come as a surprise, but a new Time Health study found that cell phones may actually make people ruder and more selfish!  Specifically, researchers discovered that cell phone use was linked to a reduction in prosocial behavior (i.e. doing things to help others).  After using a cell phone for just a short period of time, people were less likely to accept volunteering opportunities or put effort into charity fundraising.  Even just thinking about cell phones brought about this anti-social behavior in study participants.  Experts say that because we associate cell phones with connecting with people, they reduce our desire to connect further or to feel empathy towards others.  We’re not sure that explains those jerks who talk loudly on their cell phones in public though…like the last time my wife and I went to lunch, and we hear a loud “hello”…only to find out some granny was talking to her grand kid on her cell phone while waiting for her guest.

Donald Weber, Getty Images

Seventies-era folk rock icon Gordon Lightfoot and Detroit rocker Bob Seger have been selected for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame at a ceremony that will take place on June 14 in New York City. Lightfoot is already a member of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and Seger is already a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Others who will join Lightfoot and Seger in the class of 2012 include Jim Steinman, best known for penning every song on Meat Loaf’s 1977 epic album Bat Out of Hell, and country songwriter Don Schlitz, who wrote hits such as “The Gambler” and “Forever and Ever, Amen.”

John Shearer, getty Images

It’s only February, but it’s never too early to start thinking about bathing suit season (hey, spring break is just around the corner!).  To that end, a poll, in the U.K no less, recently dubbed Marilyn Monroe as having the best beach body of all time. Despite the fact that a super-slim, gym-toned physique seems to be the Hollywood ideal these days, the voluptuous blonde topped the list, along with similarly curvy ladies like Christina Hendricks, Kim Kardashian, Beyonce and Scarlett Johansson.

Steve Powell, Getty Images

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1732 – The first U.S. President, George Washington, was born in the Virginia Colony.

1819 – By the Adams-Onís Treaty, Spain sells Florida to the United States for $5 million (More info)

1879 – In Utica, New York, Frank Woolworth opens the first of many of five-and-dime Woolworth stores (More info)

1924 – President Calvin Coolidge becomes the first commander-in-chief to deliver a radio broadcast from the White House (More info)

1965 – Filming began for the Beatles’ second movie, “Help!”, in the Bahamas

1980 – In what would come to be called the Miracle on Ice, the US men’s hockey team beats the heavily-favored Soviet Union team 4-3 at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York (More info)

2006 – At least six men stage Britain’s largest robbery in history, stealing $92.5 million from a Securitas depot in Kent (More info)

It’s Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent

aliciapatterson.org/Berry

Former Louisiana Gov. Charles “Buddy” Roemer is abandoning his bid to win the Republican presidential nomination and will instead try to run as an independent candidate.

Roemer says he will make a formal announcement Thursday in California.

The 68-year-old former congressman who barely registered in polling on the GOP race said he will try to become the nominee of Americans Elect. The nonpartisan group is pushing for a third-party candidate to run against President Barack Obama and the eventual GOP nominee.

Roemer also plans to seek the nomination of the Reform Party.

Roemer served one-term as Louisiana governor from 1988 to 1992. He had built his presidential campaign on lambasting special interests in politics. He limited campaign donations to $100 and refused money from political action committees.

From the AP

If you have some trouble getting into your VIP account today to check your points, play some games or enter our contests – don’t worry. The VIP site will be down for a little while, but when it comes back up, it will be the brand-new “Fun Radio 92.9 Funhouse,” and we think you’re going to love it!

We’ve been hard at work creating the new Funhouse, and we’ve taken your suggestions and requests into account. We’re going to be offering more ways to win – and easier ways to win! We’ve got a ton of great prizes for you to play for, and it’s going to be so much easier to use!

Current members – don’t worry, all your points will move over seamlessly to the new Funhouse, so you won’t lose anything, and you won’t have to re-register. Your same username and password will get you in.

Here are some of the things we are most excited about:

• The Funhouse is now easier to find – just click on “The Funhouse” at the top of each page, or visit www.929thelake.com/vip.
• Your Funhouse points are now visible on every page on the site
• There are more ways than ever to earn points
• Our games are now even easier to play
• Even more prizes, and better prizes!

What’s up for grabs? How about an iPad 2? How about $1,000 toward the vacation of your dreams? How about a chance to be a guest DJ on The Gator 99.5 Breakfast Bunch? How about a Toshiba laptop? How about $500 IN CASH?

But it’s only available to those who have registered – and guess what – it won’t cost you anything but two minutes of your time to set everything up. We’ll even toss in 2,500 free points to get you started in playing our games!

We want to thank all of our listeners who are also Funhouse members! Thanks for making our site better, and thanks for listening to Fun Radio 92.9!

flickr jurvetson

It would be frightening to get up and sing in front of B.B. King and the rest of those incredible musicians…But not if you are the most powerful leader on earth! The crowd (especially the band) weren’t about to let President Obama leave without at least a few bars of “Sweet Home Chicago”…

Go to It

image: sfgate.com

Take Me There!

gs

It’s Mardi Gras 2012 and “Fun Radio” was out bright and early Mardi Gras morning just to see who was up and Mari Gra-ing already…So..here we go Random Shots and a catty remark or two to remember Mardi Gras 2012.

These folks were just sort of  “chilling’ in front of Pujo Street Cafe.

Nice Lady, Nice Smile..GREAT hat. She was in a good mood despite the fact that it was going to be about 3 hours before the first parade rolled.

gs

These sweet ladies were celebrating with a cause. They were selling great BBQ to raise money for Temple of Faith Church! I hope they sold a ton of it. It was a bit early in the morning to eat BBQ but it sure smelled great!

gs

Nothing says Mardi Gras quite like a guy dressed as a Roman ruler! I’ll be Little C’s sold a ton of pizza!

gs

ICE CREAM MANNNNNNN…ICE CREAM MANNNNNN!

In February? Yeah, it’s South West Louisiana.

GS

Here we have the latest thing in yard decorations. You’ve seen these for Christmas and Halloween…Now  they have them for Mardi Gras…Just be glad you can’t hear the ear splitting music coming out of that Peavy speaker behind him. I’m pretty sure his arms were down before they started the music.

gs

It’s Just not Mardi Gras without about 50 people pushing around converted shopping baskets full of crap! I’m not putting it down..it’s free enterprise at it’s best..Besides some of those things are pretty cool. When my parents took me to ANY event don’t think they ever got away without buying me something that looked like this!!! My favorite thing was those little whips they sold. they usually broke within an hour or so…I guess it’s better that way because my Mom was certain that I was going to “put an eye out”. Its not just BB guns that do that.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST…WE ALL KNOW HOW TO GET BEADS…….

SHOW US YOUR TENTS!

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

Doug Pensinger, getty Images

What is now called Presidents’ Day used to be two separate holidays- Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12^th and George Washington’s birthday on February 22^nd.  Although schools and businesses used to observe both days, the two dates were combined to form a single holiday in 1971, to be celebrated on the third Monday of February.  What a rip-off!  While Presidents’ Day is technically a federal holiday, the official title and date varies in certain states.

We have Mardi Gras, so schools are closed until Thursday. Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!!

police dept photo

Authorities in Wales are mounting an enormous campaign to try and find the Wolfman. Not because he is terrorizing villagers but because they are concerned that the extremely cold weather in Wales might prove fatal to the much talked about seldom seen forest phantom…

The story was run in The Sun and written by John Coles

Police issued a photo of eccentric Wayne Morgan, 37, and appealed for help tracking him down amid fears he could die in the cold weather.

The long-haired loner — dubbed Wolfman because of his wild appearance — has apparently been hiding deep in the forest since 2007.

He survives by hunting rabbits and foraging for plants and berries.

Folks living in the search area say that they have spotted the man from time to time but he always shied away from human contact. Authorities have expressed concern that he may have passed away last winter since that is the last time he was seen by any of the locals willing to step forward and tell their tale.

Police Sgt Teresa Ross said,   “He lives off the land — but he may be hungry and on the lookout for food.”

Last month they searched with dogs trained to detect human remains but found nothing.

The  Wolfman has been living  in six square miles of Pantyffynon Woods near Ammanford, West Wales.  Authorities say the woods are very dense and that the area is also riddled with abandoned mines.

Two years ago hikers discovered what is believed to be the Wolfman’s lair.  We can assume he wasn’t home at the time.  While he may indeed be in danger from the elements, he is no stranger to the woods. Family members told “The Sun” that Morgan started living off the land after he lost his job…As a forest ranger! They also had that he has been offered help but refuses it.

Take Me There!

flickr/kevindooley

It took over 3 years to put the deal together but Who founder and chief songwriter Pete Townshend has sold the rights to his entire catalog  to  Spirit Music Group. Word is that the deal has netted Townshend over 100 Million Dollars!  That’s more than enough money to buy back all those guitars he smashed in the 60′s! Die hard Who fans won’t be happy about part of the deal…..

Spirit  Music Group specializes in getting songs into commercials.  After spending 100 million to buy the songs, you can rest assured they won’t be too picky about the client list. Not that just anybody will be able to pony up the money to have one of the songs to push their product. If you consider that of the 400 or so songs in the catalog, only a handful will be familiar enough to the general public to use…and out of the handful, you can bet the royalty will be pretty stiff.

The Who pretty much pioneered sponsored tours with their tours on the 80′s..they recorded spots for Coca-Cola back when every group on the charts did the same..And Here it is!!!

You know, once upon a time this practice was considered “Selling Out”..But when you think of all the rockers who left this world (or are still in this world) dead broke….Give em some slack..If you could make 100 million dollars for a job you did 30 years ago…wouldn’t you?

Source: UltimateClassicRock.com

bucklava, Flickr

Here’s a look at some interesting events that took place on this day in history:

1801 – The electoral tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr is broken by the House of Representatives, which elected Jefferson president (More info)

1820 – The US Senate passes the Missouri Compromise, an attempt to deal with the dangerously divisive issue of extending slavery into the western territories (More info)

1904 – Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly premieres at the La Scala theatre in Milan, Italy (More info)

1933 – Newsweek magazine is published for the first time (More info)

1972 – The 15,007,034th Volkswagen Beetle rolls off the assembly line, breaking a world production record held for more than four decades by Ford’s iconic Model T and becoming the best selling car on the planet (More info)

1990 – Students at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, completed history’s largest ice lollipop. It weighed 7,080 pounds.

1999 – a cleaning products survey proclaimed Britons had the smelliest homes in Europe. Britain won because more home had pets and smokers, 98% had carpeted floors to retain odor, and only 46% ever did a spring cleaning.

2008 – Police in Midland, Michigan arrested a 32-year-old man for stealing 217 cases of Pepperidge Farms stuffing: street value $8,749. Police said the suspect worked for a distributor and had access to a trailer where the stuffing was stored. Police recovered 157 cases of the stuff(ing) at the man’s home.

Warner Bros.

Kevin Coster, who starred opposite Whitney Houston in the 1992 smash ‘The Bodyguard,’ will speak at Houston’s funeral this coming Saturday, according to PEOPLE.

The movie, which was Houston’s first starring role, was a mega-hit, earning more than $400 million at the box office internationally. Its soundtrack sold a staggering 42 million copies worldwide and spawned five hit singles, including Houston’s signature song ‘I Will Always Love You.’

Houston’s longtime mentor Clive Davis will also speak and Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder will sing at a private ceremony held in Houston’s hometown of Newark, New Jersey. Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown, Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys and Dionne Warwick are expected to attend as well.

Houston was found dead in a Beverly Hills, California hotel room on Feb. 11. Cause of death is still pending investigation by police. She was 48-years-old.

Source: TheFW.com

Joe Raedle, Getty Images

If you filed your taxes electronically, you may be wondering where your refund is. And, if you visited the IRS website’s “Where’s my refund?” page, you may have been given an error message that says the IRS has no information about your return.

Recently, people who have visited the IRS site to use the “Where’s my refund?” tool have been getting the message that the IRS knows nothing about their already filed return. The IRS now has a message on its site that says it is only a glitch that should be fixed in a few days.

The glitch was caused by a new e-filing system that was designed to prevent refund fraud. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first problem the “Where’s my refund?” tool has had. Early in tax season, it was telling taxpayers they would receive their checks a week earlier than they were actually receiving them.

Despite the glitches, the tool is an important one. More and more, thieves are stealing identities and using software like Turbo Tax to get other people’s refunds. Not only is it important to stop the thieves, the IRS wants to make sure American’s are getting their refunds because nearly half of all taxpayers say they use the money to buy food and pay bills.

[via Huffington Post]

Infrogmation, Flickr

The king cake is a traditional Mardi Gras food. It is usually a ring-shaped pastry, sometimes filled with cheese or jelly and sprinkled with the colors of Mardi Gras. It began as an Epiphany treat, celebrating the arrival of the Three Wise Men to the stable where Jesus was born. Oh, and it’s delicious.

The king cake tradition was brought to New Orleans by French and Spanish settlers who associated it with the Mardi Gras carnival. A dessert synonymous with celebrations definitely belonged with Mardi Gras and has been shared during the festive season ever since.

The secret of the king cake is that there is always a small trinket, often a plastic baby representing the Baby Jesus, baked inside that one lucky eater is bound to bite into. Of course, the lucky person who gets the baby in the cake gets special privileges, but is also usually responsible for bringing the next cake.

To get into the spirit of the impending Mardi Gras celebration, and to make your mouth water a bit, here are some delicious looking king cakes we found.

The Drizzled King Cake

niseag03, Flickr

The Beaded King Cake

all of olive, Flickr

The Discus King Cake

syvwlc, Flickr

The Mickey Mouse King Cake

Loren Javier, Flickr

The Go Big or Go Home King Cake

Aldon, Flickr

The King Cupcake

kristen_a (Meringue Bake Shop), Flickr

Double King Cake All the Way

HorizonsSC, Flickr

The Doing It Wrong King Cake

lesteph, Flickr

The Baby in the King Cake

mikebdoss, Flickr

The Eaten King Cake

mikebdoss, Flickr

An Amazing Rap About King Cakes

Want to Make One? Here’s How

Source: TheFW.com