The Daily Dose/June 18, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

 Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

CAPSULE BOOK REVIEW: A History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill, the abridged, single-volume edition: Most historians are hampered by the fact they weren’t there, but few offer the perspective of  someone who has been in the arena like Churchill, who served his country as everything from soldier to prime minister. 

Dry, Technical Matter: An interesting contrast is with two other favorite historians, Will Durant and David McCullough. Durant was also a philosopher while McCullough was an academic, a professional historian and all three have insights the others do not. For example, Churchill, perhaps because he never lived an average life, does not fuss too much over how the average person lived like Durant does. And while Churchill offers a compelling, interesting narrative, some may not find it as accessible as McCullough. Like McCullouh, though, Churchill does a good job of focusing on one or two prime players in a given era.  

Dry, Technical Matter II: The book starts with Caesar’s invasion of Britain in 55 BC  and goes through the end of the Second Boer War in 1902. We would not have objected to Sir Winston continuing his history to include what he had for breakfast the morning of the book’s publication. 

Fly In The Ointment: No historian meets with universal acclaim, and so it is with Churchill. A fellow British prime minister said of the book that a better title would be “Things in History That Interested Me.” Fair enough. The Industrial Revolution and some other things are given short shrift, but overall, Churchill did his work well. 

USA! USA!: Americans will enjoy his treatment of our founding, the Revolution, and the Civil War, though he glosses over the surrender at Appomattox. 

Get Your Official Daily Dose Rankings Right Here: 1 – The very best; 2 – Very good; 3 – Good; 4 – Average; 5 – A steaming pile.

Final Ranking/The Bottom Line: 2. This book did a good job of confirming an opinion we formed while reading a book on European history: that her history is mainly people – and then nations – fighting and then reforming before fighting again. So it is here: the English speaking peoples spend an awful lot of time at war. Specific fans of history will appreciate the book, as will serious general readers.  

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

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

Recall the past two sleep sessions – both PM cold medicine induced – had not been great and our goal heading into today’s sleep session was to get a good, non-chemically induced rest…Mission accomplished…

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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 1983 – Sally Ride becomes the first American woman to fly in space, serving as a mission specialist on board Challenger. Ride would fly onboard Challenger the following year and later served on the Rogers Commission, which investigated Challenger’s 1986 explosion. Like virtually every other space feat – except landing humans on the moon, of course – the Soviets did this first, sending Valentia Tereshkova into space in 1963.  

In 1989 – Fred Herd of Scotland wins the US Open, shooting a final round 84 to beat fellow Scotsman Alex Smith by seven strokes. It remains the only major title for Herd and was the first 72-hole US Open, the three previous tournaments consisting of either 54 or 36 holes. The USGA required Herd, a known drinker, to leave a deposit for the trophy out of fear he would pawn it for drinking money. 

In 1977 – Fleetwood Mac is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Dreams. It was the fifth of 18 Top 40 hits for the group, their second of nine Top 10s, and remains their only #1 song. The song also peaked at #6 in Great Britain and was Billboard’s 39th-biggest song of the year. Stevie Nicks said she wrote the song in about ten minutes and that initially the band wasn’t all that enthused about recording the song. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

The first thing you felt was that there was a man who spoke honestly about how he felt and was not trying to put something across…(he) made things understandable for the foggiest brain and went to the core of things.
John Toland
Adolf Hitler

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Glenn Miller is tied with Guy Lombardo and Tommy Dorsey for most #1s on the Your Hit Parade with ten. Dorsey’s total includes two #1s as co-leader of the Dorsey Brothers. 

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

What American woman has spent the most time in space? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/June 17, 2024
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 endures a language barrier. Today’s Diary. 

Evidently, tho, “I cannot help in any respect” translates to “I’d be happy to help you” in Tagalog or whatever the hell her native language is…

———

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 1631 – Empress Consort Mumtaz Mahal, 37, wife of Emperor Shah Jahan, dies of postpartum bleeding after delivering the couple’s 14th child…Later in the year, Jahan commissioned her mausoleum, construction began the following year, and today the building is known as the Taj Majal. Construction was completed in 1653 and involved approximately 1,000 elephants. Jahan died in 1658. 

In 1915 – Zip Zabel of the Chicago Cubs establishes the major league record for most innings pitched in a game by a relief pitcher in a 4-3, 19-inning win over the Brooklyn Robins. Zabel pitched 18-and-a-third innings, research into whose record he broke was inconclusive, and the record still stands. The game was tied 2-2 after nine innings and each team scored a run in the 15th. 

In 1939 – Glenn Miller is at #1 on the Your Hit Parade chart – America’s first chronicler of charted music – for the first of four consecutive weeks with Wishing (Will Make It So). It was the first of ten #1s on Your Hit Parade for Miller, tied for the record for the chart. The song, performed by a group of children, appeared in the film Love Affair, and was written by Buddy DeSylva, who earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song. Miller later had six #1s on Billboard’s Best Sellers In Stores Chart, beginning in 1940. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Carpentier did it again!, a second time, and this was the blow perfected by a lifetime of training…it rocked Dempsey to his heels, but it broke Carpentier’s hand. His best was not enough.
Heywood Braun

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

John Dopson was the winning pitcher in the game where Jeff Reardon got his 342nd save.

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

Who is Glenn Miller tied with for most #1s on the Your Hit Parade chart? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/June 16, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. Elon Musk  – $56 billion pay packet sounds exborbitant, but he is not being given that amount in cash…Musk does not receive a salary and package – which was initially passed in 2018 – is actually stock options that would be issued when certain market capitalization and earnings marks were/are hit. When you are willing to bet on yourself like that, it’s OK to collect big. 

2. College Sports Private Equity Deals – The Allstate Big 12 and Apple Pac 8 are coming, folks, and with colleges on the hook for $20 million in salaries now, it’s about time…College football and basketball due to collapse sooner or later as everyone – coaches, players, conferences, schools, networks – all out to get as much money as they can…SB 5 pollsters “pretty sure” this is not sustainable. 

3. USA! USA! – The 3-hole staple…US facing worst choices for US president ever, two old men either one will be the oldest president ever on Election Day…One is a partner in Israel’s continuing genocide against women and children and the other an idiot who believes moon is part of Mars and that Colorado borders Mexico…We deserve better than this, but we aren’t demanding better right now. 

4. NCAA – Organization – who somehow simultaneously manages to be pimp, whore, and john – pushing Congress to pass bill that would declare the athletes who make them billions of dollars are not employees…The government must butt out of this: the NCAA made this bed and can lie in it…Let them solve their own problems. 

5. Fake News – Click here for a summary of falsehoods some wizards amongst us were believing this week…Courtesy of the AP. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary rolls on. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow lays the hammer down. Today’s Diary. 

We didn’t even blink: we headed out immediately because this is unacceptable…We walked out with some purpose, and we have some size, and you could hear a murmuring or two as I walked up, before I even opened the gate…

———

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 1846 – Pius IX is elected pope at a conclave in Rome, replacing Gregory XVI, who died on June 1. History remembers Pius for convening the First Vatican Council in 1868 – known for promulgating the papal infallibility doctrine – and losing the Papal States to Italy in 1870. He served for 32 years, the longest reign besides that of St Peter (37 years). 

In 1992 – Jeff Reardon of the Boston Red Sox establishes a new major league record for most career saves in a 1-0 win over the New York Yankees. It was the 342nd save for Reardon, breaking the record of 341 established by Rollie Fingers between 1968-85, the record was broken the following year by Lee Smith and is now held by Mariano Rivera with 652. 

In 2012 – Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the eighth and final consecutive week. The song went to #1 in 25 other countries, including their native Australia and New Zealand, plus Israel, and Great Britain.  It was Billboard’s #1 song of the year, its 8th-biggest of the decade, and won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo of Group. It remains the only #1 for each singer, and Kimra is one of 18 acts whose only chart single went to #1 on the Hot 100.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.
Friedrich Nietzsche

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery was established on November 11, 1921. 

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

Who was the winning pitcher in the game Jeff Reardon got his 342nd save in? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/June 15, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

 Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

THERE YOU GO READIN’ AGAIN: As happens from time to time, the headline – in Al Jazeera – caught our eye: 

250 Days of Israeli War on Gaza: 15,694 Kids Killed, 17,000 without parents. 

Calling A Spade A Spade: Any doubt that this war has long been a genocide – and there really hasn’t been any doubt for a while, now – is erased. This really isn’t a bulletin, though, because Israel has been killing women and children for a long time now. This is as wrong as it is sad. The purpose of war is to kill as many enemy combatants as you can. Killing children is an outrage and everyone in Israel concerned with it must be held accountable. 

Standard Internet Disclaimer: Israel had every right to defend itself, of course. But they long ago established military and tactical superiority over Hamas. This is no longer war, merely an attempt to slaughter as many civilians as possible.

USA! USA!: And we are complicit in this, too. Our government has been sending arms to Israel from the get-go. Under the guise of supporting Israel, we are standing by while the atrocities continue. This is wrong. It is possible to support Israel’s right to exist and defend itself while opposing their wholesale slaughter of children and their parents. 

Gaylon For Congress: Vote Early, Vote Often: It would be nice if the US gave other nations the dignity of conducting their affairs without the benefit of US interference. We don’t, though, and as a result, we have violent citizens and a violent world. 

The Bottom Line: We’re not foolish enough to think war will ever go away. It won’t. It’s been man’s calling card since time immemorial, and that will not change. But what is going on in Israel is genocide and US support of it is unconscionable. We all have blood on our hands. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow’s favorite meatloaf sandwich is changed. Today’s Diary. 

She didn’t say that the changes involved the addition of pesticides to the meatloaf sandwich,  so we decided to give it a go…

———

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 1864 – Arlington National Cemetery is established when Secretary of War Edwin Stanton sets aside 200 acres at what used to be the estate owned by Confederate General Robert E Lee, who no longer had any use for it. Currently, about 400,00 people are interred at Arlington, including two presidents, 396 Medal of Honor recipients, and 32 British subjects. It is expected to run out of room by the 2060s and it is run by the US Army. 

In 2014 – Martin Kaymer of Germany wins the US Open, shooting a final round 69 to defeat Erik Compton and Rickie Fowler by eight strokes at Pinehurst #2 in North Carolina. Kaymer led wire-to-wire for his only US Open title and his second and most recent major win (2010 PGA) and this remains the highest US Open finishes for Compton and Fowler. Pinehurst #2 is currently hosting its fourth US Open. 

In 1974 – Bo Donaldson & the Heywoods is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of two consecutive weeks with Billy Don’t Be a Hero. It was the second of five chart singles for the group, their first of three Top 40 hits and remains their only Top 10 appearance. The song also went to #1 in Canada and was Billboard’s 21st-biggest song of the year. Also in 1974, a version by Paper Lace went to #1 in Great Britain, Australia, and Ireland and peaked at #96 on the Hot 100.  

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

You have to believe. You have to play brave.
Martin Kaymer

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Mike Sullivan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning have each won two Stanley Cups, the most of any current NHL coach. 

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

When was the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier established at Arlington National Cemetery? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose will return.

Click here to read today’s Diary of a Nobody entry.

Share Gaylon! Go!