The Daily Dose/Wednesday, May 24, 2023
The Daily Dose/May 24, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
Leading Off remains on hiatus.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow gets new tires. Today’s Diary.
There was only one thing to do, of course: put some air in the tire…So we went to the convenience store and while doing so noticed a screw embedded in there and your last name doesn’t have to be “Firestone” to know this is bad…
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On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1940 – The first helicopter flight is made when Igor Sikorsky flies a single-engine machine 20 feet in the air and 200 feet forward at Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sikorsky, born in Ukraine, had come to the US in 1919 and had been designing helicopters since 1909 and this success would lead to the first mass-produced helicopter two years later. History’s earliest references to vertical flight are bamboo flying toys in China around 400 BC.
In 1936 – Tony Lazzeri of the New York Yankees establishes a new major league record for most grand slam home runs in a game in a 25-2 win over the Philadelphia Athletics. Lazerri hit two grand slams to break the record of one that had been done many times previously. The record still stands had has been done twelve times since. Lazzeri also established an American League record with eleven RBIs, another record that still stands.
In 1980 – Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the fourth of six consecutive weeks with Against the Wind. It was the twelfth of 20 chart albums for Seger and remains his only #1. The album produced four chart singles, including the Top 10s Against the Wind and Fire Lake and the album also peaked at #26 in Great Britain. Prior to hitting #1, the album had spent five weeks at #2.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
…you can never enslave a reluctant people without first charming them. Certainly you must convince them that your way is their way and that the chains you have forged for them are necessary ornaments.
Gore Vidal
Creation
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The record for most weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart is 20, done twice, by Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus with Old Town Road in 2019 and by Kill Bill by SZA, which is currently in its 20th non-consecutive week at #1.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Who holds the major league record for most grand slam home runs in a season? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Tuesday, May 23, 2023
The Daily Dose/May 23, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
Leading Off appears to be on hiatus. Again. We’re working on a(another) project.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a slow day at the VSO. Today’s Diary.
There was a phone call…
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Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.
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 1939 – The submarine USS Squalus (SS-192) sinks during a test dive off the coast of New Hampshire when a valve that let air into the vessel didn’t shut, resulting in the flooding of aft compartments. Twenty-six men drowned, though quick work by the remaining crew kept the rest of the ship from flooding before it sank in 246 feet of water. Thirty-two sailors and one civilian were rescued with a rescue chamber the following day and the ship was later salvaged and recommissioned the Sailfish.
In 1873 – Survivor, ridden by George Barbee, wins the first Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore by ten lengths, running the mile-and-a-half in 2 minutes and 43 seconds. The Preakness has been run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby since 1932 and was named for the horse that won the first stakes race on Pimlico’s first spring race meet in 1870.
In 2009 – Jamie Foxx featuring T-Pain is at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then and now known as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart – for the 14th and final consecutive week with Blame It. At the time, it was the second-longest stretch at #1 on the soul chart (Choo Choo Ch-Boogie, Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five, 18 weeks, 1946) and the feat is now tied for sixth in soul chart history. It was the first of four soul #1s for Foxx and the third and most recent #1 for T-Pain. The song also peaked at #2 on the Hot 100.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Lie to a liar, for lies are his coin; steal from a thief, for that is easy; lay a trap for the trickster and catch him at the first attempt, but beware of an honest man.
Louis L’Amour
The Walking Drum
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Riddick Bowe won the world heavyweight boxing title from Evander Holyfield with a 12-round unanimous decision in 1992,
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What song(s) hold the record for most weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart? – Answer next time!1
The Daily Dose/Monday, May 22, 2023
The Daily Dose/May 22, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
Leading Off will return.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a great day in the sack. Today’s Diary.
…13 triumphant hours for the day, the best possible start to the sleep week outside of a coma.
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Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.
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 1962 – Continental Airlines flight 11, service from Chicago to Kansas City, explodes over southern Iowa, killing all 45 on board. The explosion was caused by one Thomas Doty, who exploded dynamite in an aft lavatory so his family could collect insurance benefits. Doty was about to appear in court on an armed robbery charge and had purchased both flight insurance and the dynamite before the flight. The family’s insurance claim was denied after Doty’s death was ruled a suicide.
In 1993 – Riddick Bowe defends his WBC heavyweight title with a second-round knockout over Jesse Ferguson at RFK Stadium in Washington DC. It was the second and final defense for Bowe, who would lose the title to Evander Holyfield in November and the bout remains Ferguson’s only world championship fight. Bowe’s IBF heavyweight title was not at stake because the IBF did not recognize Ferguson as a ranked contender.
In 1982 – Asia is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the second of nine non-consecutive weeks with Asia. The album also went to #1 in Canada, peaked at #11 in Great Britain, and was Billboard’s #1 album of the year. It was the first of nine chart albums for the group and remains their only #1 and produced two chart singles, including the Top 10 hit Heat of the Moment.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning.
James Russell Lowell
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Henry VI had two reigns as King of England: 1422-61 and 1470-71.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Who did Riddick Bowe defeat for the world heavyweight boxing title? – Answer next time!
The Diary of a Nobody/May 21
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life…
Sunday, May 21
AGM Brandon was at the hotel when we reported for duty…I am not making that up…We were naturally leery because having the boss there when we reported for duty has sometimes resulted in ol’ Sparrow being fired but, of course, that was hardly the case tonite…Nite auditors in general do not grow on trees and those that show up 20 minutes early, as ol’ Sparrow happened to do tonite, are simply gems to be treasured unless there’s video coverage of them actually stuffing money from the till into their pockets.
The Daily Dose/Sunday, May 21, 2023
The Daily Dose/May 21, 2023
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.
Say hi to Read Free Sunday at The Diary.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has news from around The Shire. Today’s Diary.
The rhubarb in the back garden is already huge, too…Recall it grows every year and we never use any of it, preferring to allow it to return to Mother Earth and you don’t have to be Mr Garden to strongly suspect this might be the reason why…We don’t know, however, if this is the case nor, honestly, are we going to do further research into the matter.
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Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.
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 1455 – England’s War of the Roses between the Houses of Lancaster and Tudor against the House of York begins at the First Battle of St Albans north of London. The battle saw troops under Richard, Duke of York defeat the House of Lancaster, led by King Henry VI, who was captured. The War of the Roses would last until 1487 and result in a House of Lancaster victory.
In 1977 – Seattle Slew, ridden by Jean Cruguet, wins the 102nd Preakness Stakes at Pimlico race track in Baltimore, defeating Iron Constitution by 1.5 lengths and running the mile and 3/16ths in 1:54-2/5ths. Previously, Seattle Slew had won the Kentucky Derby and would later win the Belmont Stakes, becoming the tenth Triple Crown winner. It remains the only Triple Crown for Cruguet and trainer Billy Taylor.
In 1955 – Perez Prado and his Orchestra is at #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart – a predecessor of the Hot 100 – for the fourth of ten consecutive weeks with Cherry Pink (And Apple Blossom White). The song also went to #1 in Great Britain, was Billboard’s biggest song of the year, and the song also went to #1 on Billboard’s Most Played By Jockeys and Most Played In Jukeboxes charts. Though the song had both French and English lyrics, Prado’s version was instrumental and was his first of two #1s on a Billboard pop chart.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Philosophy directs us first to seek the goods of the mind, and the rest will either be supplied or not much wanted.
Francis Bacon
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The major league record for most career errors by a pitcher is 90, done twice, by Joe McGinnity (1899-1908) and Nolan Ryan (1966, 1968-93).
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
How long was the reign of Henry VI of England? – Answer next time!
The Diary of a Nobody/May 20
Yay for Read Free Sunday at The Diary.
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life…
Saturday, May 20
When we reported for duty at the hotel Gina advised that AGM Brandon wanted me to know that Hotel B (next door) didn’t have a nite auditor tonite and that the usual note with our number had been left at Hotel B’s front desk…We asked if there were instructions regarding exactly what in the hell we were supposed to do if there was a problem and Gina said no, that was all AGM Brandon had said.
The Daily Dose/Saturday, May 20, 2023
The Daily Dose/May 20, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
Leading Off will return.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow goes to the doctor. Today’s Diary.
…the big news is the lab work from Thursday’s blood draw had outstanding news, with Dr D – who in November said I was a walking heart attack – actually giving me a thumbs-up.
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Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.
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.
Editor’s Note: due to time constraints, today’s entries have run previously.
In 1983 – The existence of HIV is first published in the journal Science. The article was written by Luc Montagnier of France who, working with others at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, discovered the virus in a lymph node biopsy of a man who had AIDS, then known as gay-related immune deficiency (GRID). Montagnier later co-founded the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention and was awarded, along with Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, the 2008 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine, an award shared with Harald zur Hausen, who had discovered an exciting new cause of cervical cancer.
In 1946 – Pitcher Claude Passeau of the Chicago Cubs plays his 145th and final consecutive errorless game in a 6-4 win over the Boston Braves. During the streak, Passeau accepted a major league record 273 consecutive errorless chances, a record for pitchers that still stands. Passeau would make an error on his first play in his next game, his first error since 1941. Passeau’s record still stands and research into whose record he broke was inconclusive.
In 1989 – Paula Abdul is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of two consecutive weeks with Forever Your Girl. It was Abdul’s second of three #1 songs for the year, following Straight Up and preceding Cold Hearted and all told Abdul spent six weeks at the top in 1989. The song also went to #1 in Canada but, interestingly, did not crack the Top 10 in any other country or on any other Billboard chart. Forever Your Girl was one of 32 #1 songs in 1989, tied for the most #1s in the Hot 100 era.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Ars longa, vita brevis- art is long and time is fleeting. This is the tragedy of every great soul.
Will Durant
The Story of Philosophy
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The first perfect games of the 19th and 20th centuries were pitched by Lee Richmond (Worcester, National League, 6/12/1880) and Cy Young (Boston, American League, 5/5/1904).
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Who holds the major league record for most errors by a pitcher? – Answer next time!