The Daily Dose/May 14, 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 declines to ask a girl out. Today’s Diary. 

…any objective analysis would conclude there wasn’t any semblance of a spark…So we passed, interest and opportunity not intersecting today. 

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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 1973 – The first US space station, Skylab, is launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Skylab would be manned by three separate three-man crews with the last crew leaving in February 1974. Skylab returned to Earth in 1979 after its orbit decayed and it burned up upon reentry, with debris landing in the western Pacific.  

In 1985 – Paul Coffey of the Edmonton Oilers establishes the NHL playoff record for most points in a game by a defenseman in a 10-5 win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 5 of the Campbell Conference Finals. Coffey had a goal and five assists for six points to break the record of five done several times previously, including by Coffey on April 20 and the record still stands. The Oilers would defeat the Blackhawks in six games and later defeated the Philadelphia Flyers for the Stanley Cup in five games. 

In 2005 – Gwen Stefani is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second of four consecutive weeks with Hollaback Girl. It was the second of ten Top 40 hits for Stefani, her second of five Top 10 hits, and remains her only #1 song. The song also went to #1 in Australia, peaked at #8 in Great Britain and on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s 2nd-biggest song of the year. It was the first digital download to sell one million copies in the US. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth cannot be produced by human institutions.
Andrew Jackson

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The major league record for most strikeouts in a game is held by Tom Cheney of the Washington Senators, who struck out 21 batters in a 16-inning game in 1962.  

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

What country launched the first space station? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/May 13, 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 can’t tell of the new key packets are a win for the environment or not. Today’s Diary. 

In fact, the paper on the new cards is thick enuff so there might be either no net paper loss or – horror of horrors – a net paper gain…which would be a big Boo for the environment…

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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 1981 – Pope John Paul II is shot in St Peter’s Square in Vatican City by Turk Mehmet Ali Ağca. John Paul was shot twice, in the torso and on his left index finger, and two bystanders were shot and wounded as well. Ağca was captured at the scene and later sentenced by an Italian court to life in prison. In 2000, at John Paul’s request, Ağca was pardoned and deported back to Turkey, where he was imprisoned for murder. He was paroled in 2006 and is still alive. 

In 1952 – Ron Necciai of the Bristol Twins (Class D Appalachian League) establishes a professional baseball record for most strikeouts in a game in a 7-0 victory over the Welch Miners. Necciai struck out 27 batters in the game, breaking the record of 25 established by Tommy Lasorda in a 15-inning game in 1948, and the record still stands. An out was recorded on a groundout, obliging Necciai to strike out four batters in the ninth. Necciai was promoted to the Pittsburgh Pirates later in the season, going 1-6 with an ERA of 7.08, in his only major league season.

In 1967 – Martha & the Vandellas are at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart for the only week with Jimmy Mack. It was the ninth of ten Top 10 soul hits for the group and their second and final #1, and the song also peaked at #10 on the Hot 100 and at #21 in Great Britain. The group had recorded the song in 1964, though Motown Records chose not to release it because they felt it sounded too much like Supremes record. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…history teaches how slight civilization is…poised on the apex of a never-extinct volcano of ignorance.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol. I: Our Oriental Heritage

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Walter Hagen did not win the Masters during is career. His best finish was eleventh in 1936.

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

Which pitcher holds the major league record for most strikeouts in a game? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose will return.

Click here to read today’s entry in The Diary of a Nobody. It’s with Sparrow’s compliments today.

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The Daily Dose/May 11, 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 has the most recent MPG figure for the new ride. Today’s Diary. 

We were sort of disappointed, tho…Recall we had put some premium gas treatment in and we were watching our speed, too, keeping it no more than 60 MPH on the highway heading to and from work because gas mileage nosedives above 65 MPH…

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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 868 – The Diamond Sutra, the oldest known printed book, is published in China. Originally written in Sanskrit, the book is an account of a conversation between Buddha and a monk, and the exact date of the original composition is unknown. A copy of the book was found in a cave in northern China and is now in the British Museum. It is a scroll 16 feet long and is dated “the 15th of the 4th moon of the 9th year of Xiantong” which is May 8, 868. 

In 1928 – Walter Hagen of the US wins the British Open, shooting a final round 72 to defeat fellow American Gene Sarazen by two strokes. It was the third of four British Open titles for Hagen and his tenth of eleven major victories. The tournament was held at Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, England, the sixth of 15 Open championships held at the course. The first was in 1894, the most recent in 2021, with the next one to be determined. 

1985 – Madonna is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the only week with Crazy For You. It was the sixth of 49 Top 40 hits for Madonna, her seventh of 38 Top 10s, and her second of twelve #1s. The song also went to #1 in Canada, Australia, and Great Britain, peaked at #80 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was their 9th-biggest song of the year. It was from the soundtrack to the movie Vision Quest. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Or did I know everything and just not want to understand?
Ernst Weiss
Georg Letham, Physician and Murderer

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Peyton Randolph of Virginia was the first president of the Second Continental Congress. He had previously served as speaker of Virginia’s House of Burgesses. 

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

How many Masters tournaments did Walter Hagen win? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/May 10, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

USA! USA!: The US announced this week that we are halting some weapons shipments to Israel in support of their war against Hamas. Good. We should never have started in the first place. Israel has killed over 35,000 Palestinians, and while few in the Western world are willing to say this, it is starting to look more and more like a genocide. 

FunFact: Rest assured, however, that this halt will not interfere with previously authorized US support. This means the move – while not entirely symbolic – is not going to stop Israel from continuing to name the score against Hamas. The tragedies that attend all wars and the atrocities that are specific to this one will continue. America will continue to have blood on her hands. 

Ladies And Gentlemen Of The Jury: Some of you might be wondering why stop now? We’ve been helping Israel destroy hospitals and kill women and children since this war began last October, so why has the invasion of Rafah become the line of demarcation for US involvement? 

The Bottom Line: We’ve said this before: it is possible to condemn Israel’s share of the atrocities in this war and not be anti-Semitic. America should have butted out of this war from the beginning. On a moral level, we have no business supporting those who bomb hospitals and kill non-combatants. On a philosophical – not to mention Constitutional – level, America must not fight any wars that Congress has not declared. We must butt out of the Israel/Hamas War.  

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a subpar session in the gym. Today’s Diary. 

Why is a mystery because we’d had a fabulous rest (see Sleep Log below) and were…stoned to the gills…giving every indication of someone ready to go move some good weight.

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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 1775 – The Second Continental Congress begins its first session in Philadelphia with delegates from twelve of the 13 American colonies. It was formed after the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April and followed the First Continental Congress that had met the year before. The Congress declared independence from Great Britain on July 2, 1776, and approved the Declaration of Independence two days later. It was dissolved in 1781 when the Articles of Confederation took effect.

In 1973 – The Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 to win the title in six games. It was the 18th of 24 Stanley Cup titles for the Canadiens, their 23rd as a member of the NHL, and was the sixth of seven runner-up finishes for the Blackhawks. In 1916, the Canadiens won the Cup as members of the National Hockey Association. 

In 1969 – Merle Haggard is at #1 on Billbord’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the only week with Hungry Eyes. The song moved into the top spot after four straight weeks at #2 and spent a total of nine weeks in the Top 10 and 17 weeks on the chart, which then consisted of 75 positions. Haggard wrote the song as a tribute to his mother, though he noted the song is not autobiographical. It was the sixth of 38 #1 country songs for Haggard. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Life can be Lost without vision but not lost by death, Lost by not caring, willing, going on Beyond the ragged edge of fortitude To something more — something no man has ever seen.  
Stephen Vincent Benét

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Walk Like an Egyptian was Billboard’s #1 song of 1987. It spent four weeks at #1 in 1986 and 1987.

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

Who was the first president of the 2nd Continental Congress? – Answer next time!

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