The Daily Dose/June 5, 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 discusses recent changes in the amount of sleep he gets on Sunday. Today’s Diary. 

Those keeping score at home have, no doubt, noticed the seismic shift in the Sunday Sleep Session (SSS)…It used to be only a few hours, usually beginning in mid-afternoon, to be expected after ten or so hours of sleep the day before…

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It’s easy reading on any device. 

———

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

In 1893 – The trial of Lizzie Borden, 33 and accused of killing her father and stepmother with a hatchet begins in Fall River, Massachusetts. The killing had occurred the previous August, with Borden a suspect from the start. Though calm and poised during questioning, Borden’s answers contained inconsistencies and she was later arrested. Borden would be acquitted and remained in Fall River, slightly ostracized, until her death in 1927. 

In 1925 – Willie McFarlane of Scotland and Bobby Jones of the US establish a new US Open record for the longest playoff in a tournament won by McFarland. The two played 36 playoff holes – a playoff is a complete round in the US Open – before McFarland defeated Jones by a stroke. Jones would’ve won in regulation, however, in the opening round he penalized himself a stroke for an infraction no one else seemed to see. It was the longest US Open until 1931 when four playoff rounds were required for Billy Burke to beat George von Elm, a record that still stands. 

In 1954 – Kitty Kallen is at #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart – one of several predecessors to today’s Hot 100 – for the first nine consecutive weeks with Little Things Mean a Lot. It was the fourth and final #1 song for Kallen on a Billboard pop chart, the song also went to #1 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s #1 song of the year, the final time a female solo act would have a year’s #1 song until Lulu’s To Sir, With Love in 1967. Kallen would later lose and then recover her voice and died at 97 in 2016. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

The chaplain had sinned and it was good…The chaplain had mastered, in a moment of divine intuition, the handy technique of protective rationalization, and he was exhilarated by his discovery…It was almost no trick at all, he saw…Anybody could do it; it required no brains…it merely required no character.
Joseph Heller
Catch-22

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The following states rejected, at least initially, the 19th Amendment, which gave women the franchise: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. All would later ratify it. 

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

What song spent the most weeks at #1 on the Best Sellers in Stores chart or the Hot 100 in the 1950s? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/June 4, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. US Debt Ceiling Deal – The details don’t really matter – it was merely devout partisans playing chicken – but the fact we are obliged to go through this on a regular basis shows, again, our elected leaders are only concerned with increasing wealth and power and that you and me – we the people – continue to tolerate it. 

2. American Express Platinum Card – Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters latest Platinum Card holders in what they “strongly suspect” is the greatest upset in history of credit…It was fate, though, as Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters had been denied admittance to airport Centurion Lounge for only possessing the green card commonly possessed by riff-raff and found Platinum Card upgrade in mail upon returning home. 

3. US Mass Shootings – The new 3-hole staple, following Lauren Daigle, Donald Trump, and #USA! #USA!…22 more shootings with at least four injuries/deaths this week (Sat-Fri) as Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters remain “pretty sure” 2nd Amendment was designed to allow citizens to possess weapons needed consistent with times, and not license to own every weapon mankind can produce. 

4. Miami, Florida – Noted US city trying valiantly to become ninth city (10th if you count Oakland/San Jose region, which Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters do not, though they manfully concede some losers might) to have teams lose NBA Finals/Stanley Cup Finals in same year…Confidence high as both teams are #8 seeds off to 0-1 starts 

5. Fake News – Click here for fake stuff some wizards amongst us were believing this week…Runs occasionally when Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters can’t come up with sufficient material…Courtesy of the AP? 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.

Si, senor, it is Read Free Domingo (RFD) at El Diario.  

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow shows a complaining guest his error and is offered an apology. Today’s Dairy.

…a heartfelt apology means this little incident is dismissed without prejudice and he was returned immediately to ol’ Sparrow’s good graces. 

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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 1919 – Congress passes the 19th Amendment to the Constitution – giving women the right to vote – and sends the amendment to the several states for ratification following approval by the US Senate, while the US House had passed the measure on May 21 after previous votes in both houses had failed. On June 10, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan became the first states to approve the amendment and ratification was completed in August 1920. The last state to ratify the 19th Amendment was Mississippi in 1984. 

In 2008 – The Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 3-2 in Game 6, to win the series 4 games to 2. It was the eleventh and most recent Stanley Cup win for the Red Wings and this remains the only loss in the Stanley Cup Finals for the Penguins, who have won it five times. The series marked the first time since the 1909 World Series that teams from Pittsburgh and Detroit had met in a postseason game or series. 

In 1977 – Waylon Jennings is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the third of six consecutive weeks with Luckenback, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love). The song also went #1 country in Canada, peaked at #25 on the Hot 100, and was Billboard’s #1 country song of the year. It was the fifth of 15 #1 country songs for Jennings, who is on record as saying he didn’t like the song, though he knew it would be a hit. It was only the second song to spend six weeks at #1 since 1972 and the first since Convoy by C.W. McCall in 1975-76. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Marriage, the last refuge of men unable to fend for themselves.
Garrison Keillor
Leaving Home

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Six athletes have been drafted by professional basketball, baseball, and football teams: Dave Winfield, George Carter, Jo Jo White, Noel Jenke, Mickey McCarty, and Dave Logan.  

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

How many states rejected the 19th Amendment, including states that would later ratify it? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/June 3, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off will return. Sometime.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow is granted an audience with the Sunday Yapper. Today’s Diary. 

…and it was actually refreshing, not to mention awe-inspiring, to hear a true yapping connoisseur ply his trade…If we got a complete sentence in, we’d be surprised.

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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 1969 – The Australian aircraft carrier HMS Melbourne and the American destroyer USS Frank E. Evans collide in the South China Sea between Vietnam and Brunei. The ships were participating in a joint exercise when Evans, off to the left and ahead of Melbourne, turned to the right, with the resulting collision slicing the Evans in two. A joint board of inquiry determined both ships were at fault, a conclusion that in hindsight seems awfully biased in favor of the US. 74 sailors, all from the Evans, were killed. 

In 1995 – The Montreal Expos select 17-year-old high school catcher Tom Brady in the draft, in the 18th round with the 507th overall pick. Brady was a good left-handed hitter with a strong arm but he declined to sign with the Expos, preferring to play football at Michigan before starting a pro career that saw him win seven Super Bowls. Brady was one of seven future NFL players drafted by baseball teams this year, including Dante Culpepper and Ricky Williams. 

In 1989 – Michael Damian is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Rock On. It was the second chart single for Damian, his first of three Top 40 hits, and remains his only #1 and Top 10 song. Rock On also went to #1 in Canada and was Billboard’s 45th-biggest song of the year. In 1973 a version by David Essex, who wrote the song, peaked at #5 on the Hot 100. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Examinations are formidable even to the best prepared, for the greatest fool may ask more than the wisest man can answer.
Charles Caleb Colton

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Kenny Nolan and Bob Crewe wrote Lady Marmalade. 

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

How many US athletes have been drafted by professional football, baseball, and basketball teams? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/June 2, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off remains in time-out.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow trots one of his favorite lines. Today’s Diary. 

Still tho, we’re not spraying or pulling [the dandelions] on the theory that not only are they good for the lawn, but we seem to recall reading they’re good for insects, too, and that’s a win for the environment…

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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 1946 – The republic of Italy is approved by Italian voters in a referendum, voting to abolish the monarchy that had reigned since 1861 by a 54%-45% margin. The king who lost his job, Umberto II, would see his reign end on June 12, on which day he flew to Portugal, where he remained until dying in 1983 at age 73. He was succeeded as head of state by President Enrico de Nicola. 

In 1985 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers establishes a new NBA record for most career points in the playoffs n a 136-111 win over the Boston Celtics in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Abdul-Jabbar had 26 points and broke the record of 4,457 points established by Jerry West from 1961-1974. Abdul-Jabbar would retire with 5.762 career playoff points, the record was later broken by Michael Jordan, and the mark is now held by LeBron James with 8,023. The Lakers would win the series in six games. 

In 2001 – Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, and Pink are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of five consecutive weeks with Lady Marmalade. The song went to #1 in 13 other countries including Australia, Norway, and Great Britain, peaked at #43 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s 24th-biggest song of the year. It was the fourth of five #1 songs for Aguilera, the first of four #1s for Pink, and remains the only #1 song for Lil’ Kim and Mya. In 1975, a version by LaBelle spent a week at #1 on both the Hot 100 and the soul chart. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

I balanced sometimes between principle and inclination…So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable creature since it enables one to find or make a reason for everything one has a mind to do.
Benjamin Franklin

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Justin Verlander has pitched three no-hitters, the most of any active major league player. 

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

Who wrote Lady Marmalade? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/June 1, 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’s new office still isn’t done. Today’s Diary. 

[The door handle] cooled down after a while tho, with one of the guys noting “they had taken it off the schedule” his manner indicating that any idiot knew what “off the schedule” meant…Needless to say we didn’t, tho we pursed our lips and nodded like this was obvious to any casual observer. 

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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 – Nazi Adolf Eichmann is executed, hanged in Israel following his conviction of war crimes during World War II. Eichman had been captured in Buenos Aires by Israeli agents in May 1960, following his discovery after a boy his daughter was dating told his dad, a German Jew, about Eichmann bragging about his Nazi exploits. After capture, Eichmann had been sedated and smuggled out of Argentina and had been convicted on December 12, 1961. His body was cremated with his ashes scattered in the Mediterranean Sea. 

In 1975 – Nolan Ryan of the California Angels tied the major league record for most career no-hitters in a 1-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles. It was the fourth career no-hitter for Ryan, who tied the record established by Sandy Koufax between 1962-65. Ryan would break the record in 1981 and retired in 1993 with seven no-hitters, still the major league record. 

In 1946 – The Ink Spots are at #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart – a predecessor to the Hot 100 – for the second of ten consecutive weeks with The Gypsy. It was the second of four #1 hits on a Billboard pop chart for the group and was Billboard’s #1 song of the year. A version by Dinah Shore was at #3 on the chart and the following week would peak at #2, making The Gypsy one of the few songs – though not the only song – to have two different versions in the top two spots simultaneously. As in the past, further research into this oddity was inconclusive. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

All the misfortunes of men derive from one single thing, which is their inability to be at ease in a room {at home}.
Blaise Pascal

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

There are a variety of dull, technical, answers to yesterday’s question. It is withdrawn. 

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

What active major league pitcher has thrown the most no-hitters? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!