The Morning Show with Mike & Susan

According to ONE study - Romantic comedies are ruining your love life! Love on the big screen sets up unrealistic expectations. Here’s the information, courtesy of the BBC: In the study, one group of volunteers watched a romantic comedy, while another watched a drama. Afterwards, they all answered questions about their attitudes toward love and dating.

The results? Those who watched the romantic film were more likely to believe in fate and destiny and they had a stronger belief in “love at first sight.” In the follow-up study, that didn’t prove to be such a good thing! Fans of movies like Runaway Bride and Notting Hill were less able to communicate with their partners. Why? Because many believed that couples who are really in love should “just know” what each other person wants. Even if you’re certain that you know the difference between onscreen and real life, you’re still susceptible.

Researcher Kimberly Johnson warns that this “movie effect” is subtle. She says that romantic films capture the excitement we feel in a new relationship and since we identify with the characters that way, it’s easier to buy into unrealistic ideas, such as the idea that lasting love can happen in a few days. Romantic movie watchers also have unrealistic expectations from their partner and their relationship in general. They’re expecting wine and roses and passionate declarations of undying love – and while that should be part of a relationship on occasion, everyday life isn’t like that. That can cause dissatisfaction.

 Now, this doesn’t mean you have to give up your movie dates. Just skip the romantic comedy and catch a thriller instead. Studies show that when couples enjoy situations that get their adrenaline pumping early on, they find one another more attractive.

It passed…the 825 billion dollar economic stimulus bill cleared the House last night although NO REPUBLICANS voted for it – it still passed now it heads for the Senate.

NASA is honoring their own and remembering today… There were three fatal missions in NASA’s history and they all took place between January 27th and February 1st, in different decades.  On January 27th, 1967 a fire killed three astronauts on Apollo 1.  On January 28th, 1986 a fuel tank exploded killing the seven member crew aboard the Challenger.  On February 1st, 2003 the shuttle Columbia disintegrated while re-entering the Earth’s atmosphere. There are special rememberances planned today at visitor centers and at the Space Centers to remember our Space Heroes

People are trying to steal Internet users’ personal data and cash at an alarming rate.  “USA Today” is reporting malicious programs circulating on the Internet tripled to more than 31-thousand a day in mid-September and is probably higher now.  Most schemes involve online promotions promising easy wealth, but others hide information stealing programs inside downloaded software or e-mail attachments.

MercyMe frontman Bart Millard is marking the 10th anniversary of his writing the group’s signature song “I Can Only Imagine.”  The song was written about his father’s early death and became the groups breakthrough hit.  The song continues to be a favorite on radio playlists around the country today.  To mark the song’s anniversary MercyMe is releasing a new project titled “10″ on April 7th.  The project is a new CD/DVD set that showcases twelve number one singles and videos that span the career of the group.  The “10″ audio CD features all eleven of MercyMe’s number one radio hits.  ON an important note about Bart.  His young daughter Sophie is hospitalized with respiratory troubles.  Please keep Bart, his wife and children in your prayers.

It comes from The Ladies Home Journal

• Men want to be married. It’s True! In a recent Gallup poll, more teenage boys than girls said they planned to get married in the future, and seven out of 10 adult males have already walked down the aisle. They also want kids. More than 90% of guys say they plan to have children one day.  
• They’re not in a hurry. True! The typical groom these days is age 27, compared with 23 in 1960.
• If you think that all men want is a pretty face… Nope -  Robert Glover wrote No More Mr. Nice Guy. He says what your man really wants is for you to think he’s attractive.
• Another thing men want in a relationship is a successful wife. In one study, nearly all the men said they wouldn’t be threatened if their spouse made more money. They’d be proud.
• The most important thing guys are looking for is a soul mate. According to the National Marriage Project, 94% of men say they want to marry someone they connect with emotionally.

Governor Rick Perry says the state of the Lone Star State is good, and its best days are yet to come.  Perry delivered his State of the State Address before a joint session of the 81st Texas Legislature Tuesday.  Perry says legislators must roll up their sleeves and get to work on the economic situation.  He says the state is not immune to the slowing economy, but it is in much better shape than other states. 

The switch to all-digital television is closer to being postponed until later this year.  If a Senate bill passed yesterday clears a House vote later today, the switch would be delayed from February 17th until June 12th.  The Obama administration asked for the delay after funding for a coupon subsidy program ran out of money. 

The stress parents are under due to the economy and other factors can also be affecting the health of their children.  A Swedish study finds living in a stress-filled home may increase a child’s risk for obesity.  Researchers measured stress levels of 75-hundred families from the time their children were born until they were five-years- old.  Those in high stress families, due to divorce, death or unemployment, were at a significantly higher risk of becoming obese.  Complete findings are in the “Journal of Pediatrics.”

Our four part interview with Duane “Dog” Chapman - Dog the Bounty Hunter is now on the website for you to hear.  If you would like to hear it click here.

Catherine Kruppa was on the show  to talk about Super Bowl Party foods!  She’s got a list of the common foods and how much work we’ll have to do to work them off if we eat them during the game Sunday.  check it out on her site! www.adviceforeating.com

Drivers should be aware of lane and road closures tonight, and Thursday during the day.  Lane closures will affect the exit ramp near Tike Island from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.  The Tiki Island exit ramp on Interstate-45 north will be completely closed Thursday starting at 7 a.m. and reopening by about 2 p.m.  TxDot says all of the lane and road closures will take place, weather permitting.

Another 71 thousand Americans have lost their jobs lately.  Half a dozen companies including Caterpillar, Pfizer, Sprint, Nextel, John Deere and Home Depot announced massive layoffs this week.

The Lone Bush administration hold over in the new administration is Defense Secretary Robert Gates – He’s appearing on Capitol Hill today to talk about the state of the defense department.  He will be

Researchers in Amsterdam say all of us are born with a sense of musical timing.  They measured newborns brain activity when they listened to music. Tiny babies not only recognized musical patterns, but even noticed when a drummer stumbled and missed a beat.  The research shows rhythm may be hard wired into our brain!