It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life…
Thursday, May 29
We headed in early to the General Hospital Security Department (GHSD tonite because we had three stops to make: the health food store, the grocery store, and the retailer…At the health food store we got some of that green powder that has eliminated the trots and has us crapping regularly, within a half hour or so of getting up, before we head out on our walk.
Friends, The Daily Dose will return. Promise. This is not a haitus.
Click here to read today’s entry in The Diary of a Nobody.
Regards,
Friends,
Your heavyweight champion of the world – The Daily Dose – will return.
Click here to read today’s entry in The Diary of a Nobody.
Thank you for being you,
The Daily Dose/May 27, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
OH HELL, HERE WE GO: This past weekend we heard our all-time favorite radio show, Casey Kasem’s American Top 40’s countdown of the Top 50 hits of the 1970s – the Countdown of the Decade as it’s known. For our money, it remains one of radio’s finest efforts, certainly better than anything we ever did when we plied that more or less honorable trade ages ago.
Dry, Technical Matter: There is a 24/7 AT40 channel that plays their year-end top 100 hits of the year shows every holiday weekend. They generally throw in one of Casey’s special shows, and once a year or so, they’ll play the Countdown of the Decade.
Fly In The Ointment: One thing we’ve always quibbled with – and something we’ve discussed here before – is how songs are ranked. Casey says several times that the countdown is computed by AT40 staff based on data from Billboard’s weekly charts….Fair enough, though further details appear to be a proprietary secret, though we would not have a seizure of the system awarded points for reaching each chart position.
Stop Us If You’ve Heard This Before: It’s different than the system we would use. For our money, the only criterion is a song’s peak position. In this case, every song went to #1, so you’d break ties with the number of weeks at #1, weeks in the Top 5, Top 10, Top 40, and on the Hot 100. Honestly, we don’t see how anybody ranks songs any other way. Using the points method, it is entirely possible a #2 song could outrank a #1 song in a year-end survey, which happens a lot and is utterly whack. My song went to number one, yours didn’t, therefore my song is bigger than yours.
The Bottom Line: You’re probably thinking we were going to bore everyone with a comparison of Casey’s Top 10 and ours – they are different – but we won’t bore you with that. Yet. We will save it for next time.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow declines to read an email for health reasons. Today’s Diary.
The AFDM showed it to me and it was fairly long (typical AFDM thoroughness, no doubt), tho to avoid stroke we didn’t actually read it…
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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 1703 – The city of St Petersburg is founded by Russian Tsar Peter the Great to give Russia a year-round seaport. The city is located at the mouth of the Neva River, about halfway between Finland and Estonia. The city served as Russia’s capital from 1713-1728 and again from 1730-1918, when it was moved to Moscow and today has a population of roughly 5.3 million, the northernmost European city with more than one million people. The site had originally been the site of a fortress built by Swedes in 1611.
In 1961 – Ralph Boston establishes a new world record in the long jump at the Modestp Relays in California. Boston jumped 27 feet, one=quarter of an inch, to break the record of 26 feet, 11 inches he had established in August 1960. Boston would break the record by 1.5 inches in July, and all told held the world six different times. The world record is now 29 feet, 4.25 inches, done by Mike Powell in 1991.
In 2017 – Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of a record-tying 16 consecutive weeks with Despacito. The song went to #1 in 41 other countries, including Ukraine and Great Britain, and was Billboard’s 2nd-biggest song of the year. It remains the only #1 song by Fonsi and Daddy Yankee and was the fifth of nine #1s for Bieber. The song tied the mark established by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men with One Sweet Day and the record is now 19 weeks, by Lil Naz X and Billy Ray Cyrus (Old Town Road) and Shaboozey [A Bar Song (Tipsey)]
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
But his time is not now, and so the legend dies.
Charles Kuralt
Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.
Chief Justice of the United States Salmon P Chase presided over the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What was Billboard’s #1 song of 2017? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/May 26, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
USA! USA!: Today is Memorial Day here in the US, a day set aside for honoring our nation’s war dead, a worthwhile and solemn occasion. Its roots date back to after the Civil War, when communities put flowers on the graves of those who died in that war, though it did not become a federal holiday until 1971.
Dry, Technical, Matter: There are probably few families in America who have not had someone go off to war, and while, statistically, most people come back from their war, some do not.
Fly In The Ointment: Over the centuries, approximately 2.8 million Americans have died in battle, with 40,000 more missing. There is no reason to think they’re alive, so think of them today, too, dammit, becaue some became POWs and did not have the benefit of quick death.
A Warm, Personal Remembrance: We are very fortunate: everyone on both sides of our family returned from their wars. Six-time great-grandpa Absalom in the Revolution, Grandpa Gaylon in War I, Dad and Uncle Don in War II. More than one uncle returned from Vietnam, and my late brother returned from the Gulf. In fact, no one returned with so much as a bad case of dandruff. Not every family was that lucky, including two widows we know.
Me! Me! Me!: There wasn’t a war for us to fight, and we spent four years in the Navy mainly catching up on our rest, a treasured pastime to this day.
The Bottom Line: Please, do not thank a veteran or a current servicemember today. It is inappropriate, and they would resent it. Do, however, take a moment to remember those who did not come back and do so without fussing over whether or not you supported the wars they died in. Every one of them died for our country.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a busy night at the hotel. Today’s Diary.
…you might be thinking ol’ Sparrow was humming on all customer service cylinders here, graciousness oozing, ineffably, from every pore.
Don’t think that. We keep this job because we’re not asked to do too much, and all pesky guests do is get in the way of our treasured project work.
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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 1868 – President of the United States Andrew Johnson is acquitted by one vote in his impeachment trial in the United States Senate. Johnson had been impeached by the House of Representatives on nine articles in March, most concerning violating the Tenure of Office Act, which forbade the president from removing cabinet members without the Senate’s consent, an act later found unconstitutional. The final not guilty vote was cast by Kansas Senator Edmund Ross, who stated he believed the offense was not deserving of impeachment.
In 1974 – Johnny Rutherford wins the Indianapolis 500 by 22 seconds over Bobby Unser, the only other driver on the lead lap. It was the first of three Indy 500 wins for Rutherford, and remains the only 2nd-place finish of Unser, to go along with two wins. It was the first Indy 500 held on the Sunday before Memorial Day, as previous races had been held on the holiday itself, known for many years as Decoration Day in parts of the US.
In 1976 – Johnny Cash is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the first of two consecutive weeks with One Piece at a Time. It was the 47th and penultimate Top 10 country hit for Cash and his 17th of 18 #1s. The song also went #1 country in Canada, peaked at #32 in Great Britain, at #29 on the Hot 100, and was Billboard’s 9th-biggest country song of the year.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
It is ridiculous and indecent to suppose that those who have other creeds, gods, and sacred scriptures than our own will be “damned”.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol X: Rousseau and Revolution
Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.
Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus have won the most PGA Championships with five each.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon! It’s not that hard.
Who was the presiding judge in Andrew Johnson’s impeachment trial? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/May 25, 2025
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.
The Sunday Bottom 5 will return.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has the latest from the hotel’s cash drawers. Today’s Diary.
The big news from the cash drawers is 1) both were off by odd amounts, and, 2) neither had any quarters!!!…I am not making that up…
———
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 1979 – Convicted murderer John Spenkelink is executed in Florida, the first person to be involuntarily executed in the US since the resumption of the death penalty in 1976. Spenkelink had been arrested in February 1973 and had turned down a plea bargain to 2nd-degree murder, which would’ve resulted in life in prison and the case is chronicled in Norman Mailer’s book The Executioner’s Song. In 1977, Utah executed Gary Gilmore, who waived his appeals.
In 1948 – Ben Hogan wins the PGA Championship, defeating Mike Turnesa 7&6 (seven holes up with six remaining) at Norwood Hills Country Club in St Louis. It was the second and final PGA title for Hogam and his second of nine majors, and remains the highest finish in a major for Turnesa. The PGA went to stroke play scoring in 1958.
In 1968 – Archie Bell & the Drells is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and soul chart – then known as the Best Selling R&B Singles chart – for the second and final consecutive week with Tighten Up. It was the first chart single for the group, and their first three Top 40 pop hits and four Top 40 soul hits. Bell was drafted into the Army shortly after the song was recorded, serving in Vietnam. The song also went #3 pop in Canada.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak; and that it is doing God’s service when it is violating all His laws.
John Adams
Letter to Jefferson
Answer To The Last Trivia Questions
Knowledge is power.
The Brooklyn Bridge was initially called the New York and Brooklyn Bridge and later the East River Bridge before becoming the Brookyn Bridge in 1915.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What golfer has won the most PGA Championships? – Answer next time!
