The Daily Dose/May 16, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

Leading Off will return. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has to repair the heater. Today’s Diary. 

Now, you don’t have to edit Heating and Air Conditioning Today to strongly suspect if the heater fired up – it had been off for a week or two – it was working, and the thermostat is copping an attitude…

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Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

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On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1866 – The US Congress establishes the nickel 5-cent piece. Previously, the government had issued a 5-cent coin known as the half-dime and 5-cent fractional currency notes, which would stay in circulation until 1876. The nickel joined two- and three-cent coins that  remained in circulation throughout the 19th-century. The current nickel is three-quarters copper and one-quarter nickel. 

In 1976 – The Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 5-3 in game four to sweep the series. It was the 19th – and the first of four consecutive – of an NHL record 24 Cup wins for the Canadiens and the first of six runner-up finishes with the Flyers, to go with two titles. Montreal defenseman Rick Chartraw, born in Venezuela to American parents, remains the only player born in South America to win the Stanley Cup. 

In 1953 – Percy Faith & His Orchestra featuring Felicia Sanders is at #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart – a predecessor to the Hot 100 – for the first of ten consecutive weeks with The Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart). The song was Billboard’s #1 song of the year, and a version by Mantovani went to #1 in Great Britain. It was the first of two #1 songs for Faith and remains the only #1 for Sanders.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

But shortsighted men undertake policies for their immediate advantage, paying no heed to the slow poison hidden within them.
Niccolo Machiavelli
The Prince

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

The oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the US is St Augustine, Florida, founded in 1565 by the Spanish. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

Who was the MVP of the 1976 Stanley Cup Finals? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/May 14, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE MANTLE OF IDIOCY: The witlessness of the Trump Administration continued this week with his executive order regarding prescription drug prices. It was heralded as giving drug companies 30 days to lower prices. 

Fly In The Ointment: The order is pure Trump: all bluster and no substance. there is no legal mechanism for enacting price reductions and is, in essence, a request. The order is so powerful, pharmaceutical stock prices rose after the announcement; the industry was expecting worse. 

Snake Oil For Sale: Any reductions would only affect the government’s price for drugs for Medicare and other federal programs, like VA medical care. There is no reason to think it will affect the price paid by private insurers and retail buyers. 

Dry, Technical Matter. This is typical Trump braggadocio: claiming to cure all ills when, in actuality, nothing will be accomplished. Trump won’t care, either: his only realy goal is to draw attention to himself and he’s done that. He’s already moved on to accepting a new jet from Qatar and butting in on college sports. He continues to offer ignorance and blather to a country that still  – after ten years – cannot get enough of it. 

The Bottom Line: Trump’s executive order does reaffirm that heath care in this country remains a fiasco. In fact, it is to the point where we should either adopt a single-payer system or get the government out of it entirely and return doctors and health insurers to the free market. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has to scramble for a place to eat. Today’s Diary.

The Mexican joint in the next county was closed!!!…

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Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1607 – The first permanent English settlement in the Americas is established at Jamestown, Virginia, then known as James Fort. It was established by the London Company, which had made landfall in April, originally settling at the mouth of the James River, about 30 miles south. The first representative assembly in America, the House of Burgesses, met at the Jamestown Church in 1619. The town was abandoned in the 1750s after the capital was moved to Williamsburg. 

In 1980 – Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers has the first quadruple-double in NBA Finals history in a 108-103 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in game five. Johnson had 14 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 turnovers and the feat has not been duplicated. The ten turnovers broke the Finals record of nine established by Gus Williams of Seattle the year before, and the record still stands. The Lakers would win the series in six games. 

In 1977 – Leo Sayer is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with When I Need You. It was the fourth of eight Top 40 hits for Sayer, his third of four Top 10 hits, and his second and final #1. The song went to #1 in four other countries, including Zimbabwe and Great Britain, peaked at #94 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was their 24th-biggest song of the year. The song was written by Albert Hammond and Carole Bayer Sager. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

In a word, other men’s armor will either slip off your back, or weigh you down, or constrict your actions.
Niccolo Machiavelli
The Prince

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

Five countries – Great Britain, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland – have won the America’s Cup. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

What is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the US? – Answer next time! 

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The Daily Dose/May 13, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a leisurely night at the hotel. Today’s Diary. 

Thirty rooms, none of them bothering me for anything more troublesome than a wake-up call and, like last nite, we were back from walking the hotel well before midnite…

———

Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 2012 – Mexican federal police discover 49 dismembered bodies on a highway outside of Monterrey. Forty-three men and six women had their heads, feet, and hands cut off, appeared to have been tortured, and were put in plastic bags. The victims were never identified and might have been migrants heading for the US. Several members of the Los Zetas drug cartel were arrested and research into the disposition of the case was inconclusive. 

In 1995 – New Zealand wins the America’s Cup for the first time, defeating the defending champion from the San Diego Yacht Club in the fifth race to sweep the series. It was only the third time a US team had lost the Cup since winning it from the British in 1851. New Zealand would defend the Cup in 2000 before losing it to the Swiss in 2003. New Zealand has won the last two America’s Cups, and the year of the next defense is still to be determined. 

In 1967 – Diana Ross & the Supremes are at # on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with The Happening. The song also peaked at #6 in Great Britain, at #12 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was their 29th-biggest song of the year. The song was from the movie of the same name and was written by the legendary Motown team of Holland, Dozier, and Holland, as well as the film’s musical director Frank DeVol, who would later play Happy Kyne on Fernwood 2Nite. It was the tenth of twelve #1 songs for the group, still the record for an American group. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…the man who does not lay his foundations in advance may with great effort build them later – but he will always do so with inconvenience to the architect and danger to the structure.
Niccolo Machiavelli
The Prince

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

The Union commander for the Battle of Palmito Ranch was Brig. Gen. Theodore Barrett and the Confederate commander was Colonel John Ford. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

How many countries have won the America’s Cup? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/May 11, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

 Leading Off will return.  

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow walks the hotel. Today’s Diary. 

…there was a lot of action going on in 103 –  the noises of a couple definitely enjoying familiarities with each other…

The male half of the coupling was spewing the usual nonsense we men do in this situation, while the girl was heard to request greater thrusting action from her man…

———

Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1865 – The Battle of Palmito Ranch – the last major land action of the Civil War – begins on the southern tip of Texas. The Confederate surrender at Appomatox was known to both commanders, but surrender terms for Southern troops could not be agreed upon. The battle lasted two days and ended in a Confederate victory, with the Confederate troops not surrendering until June. 

In 1974 – The Boston Celtics win the NBA title, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 102-87, to win the series 4 games to 3. It was the twelfth of 18 NBA titles for the Celtics and remains the only runner-up finish for the Bucks in the Finals, to go with two titles. The Celtics had defeated the Buffalo Braves and New York Knicks in the first two rounds, while the Bucks had defeated the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls.  

In 1990 – Sinead O’Connor is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the fourth and final consecutive week with Nothing Compares 2 U. It was the first of two chart singles for O’Connor and remains her only Top 40 hit. The song went to #1 in 18 other countries, including New Zealand, Norway, and Great Britain, and was Billboard’s 3rd-biggest song of the year. The song was written by Prince. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…men don’t really believe in anything new until they have solid experience of it.
Niccolo Machiavelli
The Prince

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

Grand Funk Railroad’s last appearance on a Billboard chart came in 1982 when the single Stuck in the Middle peaked at #8 on the Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

Who were the Union and Confederate commanders at the Battle of Palmito Ranch? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/May 11, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. War! War! War! – Russia/Ukraine, Israel/Hamas, India/Pakistan just the headliners from planet that has over 100 wars going in right now…US getting some, too, currently involved in Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Red Sea, and Gaza, though Congress has yet to declare war in any of these places, as mandated in the Constitution. 

2. Pope Leo XIV – New pope originally from Chicago and a White Sox fan, but found Pope Francis had left papal bull forbidding him from using regnal name Pope Shoeless Joe I…Among Leo’s first acts was to issue special dispensation for Black Sox who threw 1919 World Series so they could get immediate admission into heaven. 

3. 2026 Midterm Elections Pulse – The new 3-hole staple, measuring the chances of the 2026 midterms elections actually being held…This week the pulse is moderate…True, Trump hasn’t issued any nonsense about a third term, but he is ignorant and needs attention, so we have it as 50/50 that he’ll try it… Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters “strongly suspect” America’s nadir is that this is even being talked about in the first place. 

4. Colorado Rockies – Rockies on pace to win a couple of dozen games in 2025 as front office sending baseballs to Vatican for special blessing, hoping new Pope Leo takes them on as preferred National League team and offering to fund painting of Coors Field on ceiling of Sistine Chapel, to replace The Creation of Adam, 

5. Trump Administration Fact Check: – Click here for a check on claims made by HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr…From the AP. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has the latest MPG figures for the new ride. Today’s Diary. 

Regular readers of this crap know the new ride’s MPG figures vary by the season: low 30s in the winter and upper 30s in the summer, sometimes topping 40 once or twice…So 37.5 means spring is officially here…

———

Would you like 4Ever & Ever access to Gaylon’s crap?
Of course you would.
Click here. It’s only $24.99.

Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it. 

In 1987 – Nazi Party member Klaus Barbie goes on trial for war crimes in Lyon, France. Barbie had escaped to Bolivia with the aid of the US after World War II, but in 1983 lost the protection of the Bolivian government and was arrested and extradited. Barbie would be found guilty of war crimes and was sentenced to life in prison. Barbie had twice been sentenced to death in absentia by France, but the country had already abolished the death penalty. He died in prison in 1991. 

In 1928 – Walter Hagen of the US wins the British Open, shooting a final round 72 to defeat Gene Sarazen of the US by two strokes at Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England. It was the third of four British Open wins for Hagen and his ninth of ten majors. For Sarazen, it was the first of two runner-up finishes in the British Open, to go along with one win. The tournament was played Wednesday through Friday, with one round on the first two days and the third and fourth rounds on Friday.

In 1974 – Grand Funk Railroad is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second and final consecutive week with The Loco-Motion. It was the sixth of nine Top 40 hits for the group, their second of four Top 10 hits, and their second and final #1 song. The song also went to #1 in Canada, peaked at #10 in West Germany, and was Billboard’s 5th-biggest song of the year. In 1962, Little Eva took the song to #1, making it the second of nine songs to hit #1 for different artists.  

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

The less one trusts to chance, the better one’s hope of holding on.
Niccolo Machiavelli
The Prince

Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.

Independence Hall was known as the Pennsylvania State House at the time of the 2nd Continental Congress. 

Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.

When was Grand Funk Railroad’s last appearance on a Billboard chart? – Answer next time! 

Share Gaylon! Go!