President Obama and Michelle Obama entertain during a Girl Scout campout on the South Lawn earlier this summer. The question is whether survivalist Bear Grylls is going to allow the president to bring those lanterns on their trek in Alaska. (Photo: Evan Vucci | AP)

Sound smart this weekend

September 3, 2015 | Kirstin A. McCudden | 3 min read

THE REARVIEW: (Three stories to have in your wheelhouse)

5 Skills President Obama Will Need To Survive A Day With Bear Grylls (NPR)

Bear Grylls is the President of Awesomeness, what with his mad post-apocalyptic survival skills. So it’s fitting he’s taking the actual POTUS on a trek through the Alaskan wilderness for an episode of Running Wild with Bear Grylls (NBC). In. So, so in.

If Fish Is Brain Food, Can Fish Oil Pills Boost Brains, Too? (NPR)

Good news: We can quit swallowing those foul-tasting fish oil pills. Bad news: Someone has to teach us to fish.

From the We Honestly Don’t Know How We Feel About This department (The Associated Press):

There’s a “SpongeBob” musical in the works but the music is no kiddie stuff. Nickelodeon said Monday it will produce the world premiere of “The SpongeBob Musical” in Chicago next summer with original songs from John Legend, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Dirty Projectors, The Flaming Lips, T.I., Plain White T’s, They Might Be Giants, Lady Antebellum, Panic! At the Disco, and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry.

It is co-conceived and directed by Tina Landau with a book by Kyle Jarrow and music supervision by Tom Kitt. The show will play Chicago’s Oriental Theatre starting June 7 with an eye to Broadway. Producers call it “a rousing tale of a simple sea sponge who faces the unfathomable. It’s a celebration of unbridled hope, unexpected heroes, and pure theatrical invention.”

WHAT WE’RE FORWARDING: This First Friday

September has rolled in, which means the Crossroads Art District is rolling out the sidewalk for tomorrow’s First Friday. This roundup of art spots and one helpful little map makes it easy for you to go forth and First, my friends.

CLICK HERE: Giphy

It’s the mother of all sites for GIFs, in one infinitely searchable and infinitely time-suckable place.

If you want relevance, it’s got it. When the U.S. Open started play this week in New York, Giphy got us ready for tennis’ opening day. If you lean toward the inane, for one, we like you. For two, search to your little heart’s content. We totally did not spend 20 minutes looking at looping kitten GIFs. Nope.

As a bonus, Giphy recently added extensions for your email, meaning inserting that perfect GIF into tomorrow’s presentation has never been easier. Your co-workers will thank you.

COMING UP

When McDonald’s announced Tuesday they would begin serving breakfast all-day-every-day, we immediately put Oct. 6 on the calendar. But for the instant-gratification types, we have you covered, too.

It’s Labor Day weekend, which we shall celebrate by laboring as little as possible. First up, there’s the aforementioned First Friday, then we’ll follow the influx of redheads to Crown Center for KC Irish Fest. And there’s always the well-timed non-stop baseball happening at the K.
Labor-less long weekend, commence.
Hash browns, we have our eye on you.