The Daily Dose/January 27, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

STOP US IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS BEFORE: For the second time, Donald Trump will face trial in the US Senate following impeachment by the US House, with the Senate scheduled to take up the matter on Feb 8. Trump was impeached by the House on one count of incitement of insurrection on Jan 13. 

Here We Go Again: A conviction is unlikely. On Tuesday, a GOP effort to dismiss the charge failed, but only by a 55-45 margin, short of the two-thirds margin that will be required to convict Trump. 

Dry, Technical Matter: Conviction by the Senate carries no criminal penalty and Trump can no longer be removed from the presidency, but the Constitution allows the Senate to vote to bar Trump from further holding “…any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States.”.

USA! USA!: It would be really nice if we could just wash our hands of Donald Trump. We survived his ignorant, incompetent term, but the prospect of barring Trump from running for office again is too good to pass up, even if it will probably fail. 

The Bottom Line: This, of course, plays right into Trump’s wheelhouse. His only stock-in-trade – besides ignorance, of course – is drawing attention to himself and this will give him ample opportunity to return to the public eye, which is all that matters to him. It will stir up his base, too, a group that continues to offer the same allegiance rich bullies have commanded since time immemorial.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody –  Sparrow and Amy discuss last night’s pizza. Today’s Diary. 

Actually, Amy wasn’t altogether thrilled with the whole thing…She said she had ordered the Shroom Kaboom pizza and while there were certainly mushrooms on it, she didn’t think there were enuff to warrant a top billing such as Shroom Kaboom…I quickly agreed with her, because yours truly had noticed some mushrooms, but not all that many, frankly…In fact, based on featured ingredients, it probably should have been called Spinach Shazam more than Shroom Kaboom. 

I hope Amy never buys this pizza again. 

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It’s easy reading on any device. 

Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
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On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 1967 – Three crew members of Apollo 1 – Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee – are killed during a cabin fire in the command module during a launch rehearsal. The cause of the fire was electrical and spread quickly due to combustible materials and the pure oxygen atmosphere in the cabin. Apollo spaceflights were suspended immediately, with manned flights not resuming until Apollo 7 in October 1968.

In 1982 – The Los Angeles Kings establish a new NHL record for most consecutive tie games in a 4-4 tie with the Philadelphia Flyers. It was the sixth consecutive tie game for the Kings, research into whose record the Kings broke was maddeningly inconclusive and the record still stands and because there are no longer tie games in the NHL, cannot be broken. The streak would end on the 30th with a 7-4 over the St Louis Blues, the Kings’ first win since December 23, a streak where they went 0-7-9. 

In 1973 – Tom T Hall is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart- then known as the Hot Country Singles Chart – for the only week with (Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine. It was the eighth of 23 Top 10 country hits for Hall and his third of seven #1 country songs. The song also went to #1 on Canada’s country chart and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Hall as a songwriter for Best Country Song.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

Where will wants not, a way opens…
J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Jennifer Capriati defeated Martina Hingis 6-4, 6-3 in the 2001 Australian Open final and Kim Clijsters 1-6, 6-4, 12-10 in the 2001 French Open final. 

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

What was Tom T Hall’s biggest hit on the Hot 100? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/January 26, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off continues in time out and will return. Promise.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

Read Free Fortnight has been extended. So go, scoot, enjoy today’s Diary entry with Sparrow’s compliments.

The Diary of a Nobody –  At the hotel, Sparrow enjoys some pizza. Today’s Diary. 

Amy had some pizza for me, too, two slices…The only fly in the ointment was it wouldn’t be a Sparrow nominee for Pizza of the Year…It had some spinach or some other green stuff, on it and it also had bison meat…Now, you run into bison meat from time to time up here – usually in burgers, where it’s pretty good – but it’s not as good in pizza as, say, Italian sausage…Or bacon…Or pepperoni…It was a white, pizza, tho, which I otherwise like and it didn’t cost me anything, tho there is going to come a time when I’m going to toss in a few bucks to the Amy General Fund because she has pizza pretty regularly for me.

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

Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available. 

———

On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 1863 – President Abraham Lincoln relieves Major General Ambrose Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac a few weeks after being routed at the Battle of Fredericksburg by the Confederate Army, commanded by General Robert E Lee. Burnside was relieved by Major General Joseph Hooker, who would serve five months before being relieved by Major General George Meade. 

In 2002 – Jennifer Capriati of the United States wins the Australian Open tennis tournament, defeating Martina Hingis of Switzerland 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. It was the third and final Grand Slam title for Capriati, who in 2001 had won both the Australian and French Opens and in 1992 had defeated Seffi Graf for the gold medal at the Barcelona Summer Games. Capriati was enshrined in the Tennis Hall of Fame in 2012. 

In 1963 – Mary Wells is at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Hot R&B chart – for the second of four consecutive weeks with Two Lovers. It was the fifth of 21 soul hits for Wells on both the Billboard and Cashbox soul charts (Billboard did not publish a soul chart in 1964) and her second of three #1s. The song also peaked at #7 on the Hot 100 and was written by Smokey Robinson. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

Couple of matters that I want to talk about since this is one of the few times people will listen to what I have to say…I’m dying tonight based on testimony, that all parties, me, the man who gave the testimony, the prosecutor he…knew it was a lie.
James Beathard
Last words before being executed
Huntsville, Texas,  12/9/99

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Ringo Starr made one appearance on Billboard’s country chart, a duet with Buck Owens called Gonna Have Love, which peaked at #76 in 1989. 

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

Who did Jennifer Capriati beat in the finals of the 2001 Australian and French Opens? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/January 25, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off is in time out. It will return.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody –  Sparrow’s pretty lazy after his workout. Today’s Diary. 

I blew off the post-workout soak because, once again, changing in and out of swim trunks was more work than ol’ Sparrow was willing to put into his leisure hours…The plan was to go to the 50s diner for breakfast, but I couldn’t even be bothered to do that…I don’t know why, I was looking forward to it all morning, but I drove past it downtown without a second glance.

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

Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available. 

———

On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 1890 – Nellie Bly, a reporter for the New York World, completes her around the world journey in 72 days, eight days sooner than the fictional trip in the Jules Verne novel Around the World in 80 Days that had inspired her. Bly’s 24,898-mile journey had begun the previous November 14 on a steamer to England and she arrived in San Francisco on January 21, two days behind schedule, and her paper hired a private train to take her the rest of the way. A competing, simultaneous trip by British reporter Elizabeth Bisland took 76 days. 

In 1960 – Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia Warriors establishes a new NBA record for most points in an NBA game by a rookie in a 127-117 win over the Detroit Pistons in a game played in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Chamberlain had 58 points, breaking the record of 55 established by Elgin Baylor on February 25, 1959, and tied by Chamberlain on November 12, 1959. Chamberlain would tie his new mark with 58 points on February 21st and the record still stands. 

In 1974 – Ringo Starr is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with You’re Sixteen. The song also peaked at #1 in New Zealand and at #4 in Starr’s native Great Britain and was Billboard’s 31st biggest song of the year. It was the fifth consecutive Top 10 hit for Starr, his fifth of ten Top 40 hits and his second and final #1 song as a solo act (Photograph, one week, 1973). In the winter of 1960-61, a version of the song by Johnny Burnette peaked at #8 on the Hot 100 and at #3 in Great Britain.
Editor’s Note: This song actually went to #1 the following day, January 26. We regret the error. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

Mere longevity is a good thing for those who watch life from the sidelines. For those who play the game, an hour may be a year, a single day’s work an achievement for an eternity.
Gabriel Heatter

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Between her 18 #1 songs as a solo act and with the Supremes, Diana Ross has spent a total of 42 weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. 

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

How many appearances has Ringo Starr made on Billboard’s country chart? – Answer next time!

Go Gaylon! Visit Gaylon on Facebook here. 

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/January 24, 2021
By Gaylon Kent
America’s Funniest Guy

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. President Joe Biden – A heck of an inaugural address and having a president who knows the Revolution wasn’t won by securing British airports are nice, but President Biden’s biggest success is releasing us from wondering whether or not we’re going to have a country at the end of the day. 

2. Donald Trump – Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters wondering – like you may be – how deep his depression is as world’s biggest attention-needer is no longer center of world’s attention…Could not be happening to worse human being.  

3. Lauren Daigle  – #oopsies…Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters in full apology mode after wizards miscalculate number of weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Singles chart…Song this week at top for 115th non-consecutive week, a Billboard all-chart record…Morman Tabernacle Choir taking notice, now in studio recording slammin’ techno version of Te Deum Laudamus. 

4. Lady Gaga – Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters don’t get out much and had never heard Lady Gaga sing before her inaugural appearance and were so moved they continue to issue hand salutes after about as good a national anthem rendition as they’ve ever heard. 

5. Former President Trump Fact Check – Finale for long-time 5-hole staple, click here for Trump’s zany, false farewell remarks. Provided by Associated Press. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

It’s Read Free Sunday. Enjoy today’s Diary entry with our compliments.

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a great week in the sack. Today’s Diary. 

7.5 hours for the day and a wonderful 48.0 hours for the week, the highest total of the young year…In fact, the totals have been getting progressively higher this month and at this rate, we’ll be spending the entire week in the sack by spring. 

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

Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available. 

———

On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 1848 – What History knows as the California Gold Rush begins when James W Marshall, a carpenter and sawmill operator, discovers gold in the American River at Coloma. Marshall was inspecting the previous night’s excavation at a sawmill he was building when the discovery was made and some tests confirmed it was gold. The discovery was made on land owned by John Sutter and neither man profited from the discovery. 

In 1982 – The San Francisco 49ers win their first Super Bowl defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 26-21 in Super Bowl XVI in Pontiac, Michigan. It was the first time since Super Bowl III (New York Jets/Baltimore Colts) that both teams were making their first Super Bowl appearance and was the first of four Super Bowl wins for the 49ers and the first of two Super Bowl losses for the Bengals. Diana Ross sang the national anthem and the halftime show was performed by Up With People. 

In 1976 – Diana Ross is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going). It was the third of six #1 solo hits for Ross, and her 15th #1 song, counting her time with the Supremes. The song also peaked at #1`4 on Billboard’s soul chart and at #5 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s 43rd biggest song of the year. It also earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for writers Michael Masser and Gerald Goffin.  

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

All I’m saying, I suppose, is that if the temptation to humanity does assail you now and then, I hope you won’t take it as a weakness in yourself, but give it a fair hearing.
John LeCarre
The Secret Pilgrim

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The NBA record for fewest points in a quarter is two, done twice, first by the Dallas Mavericks in April 1997 and then in February 2004 by the Golden State Warriors. 

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

How many weeks at #1 has Diana Ross spent as both a solo act and as a member of the Supremes? – Answer next time!

Go Gaylon! Visit Gaylon on Facebook here.

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The Daily Dose/January 23, 2021
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. 

It’s Read Free Fortnight. Today’s Diary entry is on the house.

The Diary of a Nobody –  Sparrow gets a haircut. Today’s Diary. 

Otherwise, it was slow enuff to go and get a haircut today, as the flowing locks have needed one for a while now…I keep telling myself two things regarding the flowing locks: that I am going to get them trimmed regularly so that it will be hard to tell when yours truly does visit the barber and when I don’t do that that I am going to let them grow long enuff so they are curly and stylish in the back…This never happens, either, because after a while it’s plain they will never be curly and stylish in the back. 

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

Columns, books, shopping lists, click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available. 

———

On This Date
The long march to today. 

In 1570 – James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray and Regent of Scotland for the infant King James VI, becomes the first recorded political figure assassinated by a firearm. The Earl was shot by one James Hamilton from the window of a house as Steward passed below in a cavalcade. Hamilton had been a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, who earlier had been obliged to flee to England. 

In 2015 – Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors establishes a new NBA record for most points in a quarter, in a 126-101 win over the Sacramento Kings. Thompson had 37 points in the third quarter – and 52 for the game – to break the record of 33 established by George Gervin of the San Antonio Spurs in April 1978 and later tied by Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets in December 2008. Thompson’s record still stands. 

In 1965 – Petula Clark is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of two consecutive weeks with Downtown. It was the fifth Top 40 hit for Clark, the second of six Top 10 hits and her first of two #1 songs (My Love, two weeks, 1966). The song also went to #1 in West Germany, Canada and New Zealand and peaked at #2 in Great Britain. In 1984 a version by Dolly Parton peaked at #80 on the Hot 100 and at #36 on Billboard’s country chart. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever. 

I want only to live as I do, as a student./Studying to what end?/To know myself. What else?
Gore Vidal
Julian

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The NBA record for most points in a regulation quarter is 58, by the Buffalo Braves on October 20, 1972, in the fourth quarter of a 126-118 loss to the Boston Celtics. 

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

What team holds the NBA record for fewest points scored in a quarter? – Answer next time!

Go Gaylon! Visit Gaylon on Facebook here. 

Share Gaylon! Go!