The Daily Dose/April 6, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

HERE WE GO AGAIN: It is getting increasingly difficult nowadays to have a major sporting event without some sort of officiating controversy. It happened again in Friday’s second NCAA women’s national semifinal, where Iowa defeated UConn 71-69. With 3.9 seconds, UConn’s Aaliyay Edwards was called for an illegal screen while the Huskies tried to set up a final shot. 

Upon Further Review: It was a good call because Edwards was not completely vertical during the screen. She stuck out an elbow and leaned into the defender, which gave her an unfair advantage. A foul call was appropriate. 

&%#$#^&!!!: Even louder were the shrieks that the call should not have been made because of the circumstances. Phrases like “you can’t make that call,” “let them play,” and our favorite, “let the players decide it,” were ringing from sea to shining sea. When an official hears this, they can go to bed knowing they earned their game fee because comments like this are not about the call itself but about you having had the guts to call it. 

Get Your Official Daily Dose Policy Right Here: These comments are witless. First off, if you’re not going to make that call then exactly when are you going to make it? In preseason scrimmages? And the players did decide it, with one of them committing an illegal screen with 3.9 seconds left.  

Oh Yeah: It was the fourth illegal screen call of the night on UConn, so you can’t whine about inconsistency. It had been a foul all night. 

The Bottom Line: This country is going to hell. Instead of being praised for A+ off-ball coverage, the crew is getting pounded for having had the courage to make the right call late in a close game. This really isn’t a bulletin because officiating has long been the second-most misunderstood trade, right behind prostitution. On the other hand, better to take crap for making the call than swallowing your whistle and not calling it. 

Editor’s Note: Gaylon is a retired high school sports official. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow loses his mind. Today’s Diary. 

The floors were swept, the carpets and rugs vacuumed, and the cat box cleaned out…We got laundry done, too…

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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. 

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

In 1865 – The last major battle of the Civil War between elements commanded by Generals Ulysses S Grant and Robert E Lee takes place near Farmville, Virginia. The battle was a victory for the Union, with Confederate troops having over 7,000 captured and an unknown number killed and wounded. The battle came three days after the Confederate capital of Richmond fell and History refers to it as the Battle of Sailor’s Creek. 

1987 – Sugar Ray Leonard wins the WBC middleweight title, defeating Marvelous Marvin Hagler in a split decision at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. It remains the only middleweight title fight for Leonard, who earlier had won welterweight and light middleweight titles nad would later win super middleweight and light heavyweight titles. It was the final fight for Hagler, who retired still holding the IBF and WBA middleweight titles. 

In 1959- Frankie Avalon is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the fifth and final consecutive weeks with Venus. The song also went to #1 in Belgium, peaked at #16 in Great Britain, at #10 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s fourth biggest song of the year. It was the fourth of 13 Top 40 hits for Avalon, his third of seven Top 10 hits and his first of two #1s (Why, one week, 1959). Avalon’s given name was Francis Thomas Avallone. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Older voters who had lived through the Depression and two world wars fretted that America had somehow lost its grit and will to sacrifice.
Evan Thomas
Ike’s Bluff

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Thomas Jefferson is the only US president to serve two full terms without vetoing a bill. 

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

In what weight class did Sugar Ray Leonard win the gold medal at the 1976 Olympics? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/April 5, 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 laments the coming of spring. Today’s Diary. 

…and there is no small amount of work to be put it to get the yard ready for spring. 

Needless to say, we don’t want to put in this work.

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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 1792 – President George Washington becomes the first president to veto a bill passed by Congress, a bill that would’ve changed how seats in the US House are apportioned. Over the centuries US presidents have vetoed 2,592 bills, with Congress overriding 112 of those. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who served three full terms and part of a fourth, vetoed the most (635) while seven presidents didn’t veto any. The last veto was this past Jan 24 by President Joe Biden. 

In 1982 – Jim Kaat of the St Louis Cardinals establishes a new major league for most consecutive seasons by a pitcher in a 14-3 win over the Houston Astros. It was the 24th consecutive season for Kaat breaking the record of 23 established by Early Wynn from 1939-63. Charlie Hough and Jamie Moyer later tied the record and it is now held by Nolan Ryan, who pitched in 27 consecutive seasons from 1966-83. This is also the major league record for most seasons by anyone, a mark shared with Cap Anson, 

In 1969 – Glen Campbell is at #1 on Billboard’s album chart – then known as the Top LPs chart – for the fourth and final non-consecutive week with Wichita Lineman. It was the sixth of 18 chart albums for Campbell and remains his only #1. The album produced two chart singles, including the title track, which went to #1 on Billboard’s country chart and peaked at #3 on the Hot 100. The album also went to #1 on Billboard’s country album chart.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…any kind of respect or appreciation for themselves had been squeezed out of them so thoroughly that they seemed to feel their lives were as they should be. All they seemed to be concerned about was not getting beaten.
Alex Haley
Roots: The Saga of an American Family

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The record for most weeks spent on the Billboard Hot 100 is 91, by Heatwaves by Glass Animals from 2021-22. 

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

Who is the only US president to serve two full terms without vetoing a bill passed by Congress? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/April 2, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

Leading Off will return. Promise.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow reports the weekly Coke order is a doozie. Today’s Diary. 

I know what you’re thinking: wow and double wow, especially considering the economies that had been in place the past couple of weeks…

———

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 1946 – Japanese Lt General Masaharu Homma, who led a march of Allied POWs in the Philippines on what History refers to as the Bataan Death March, is executed in the Philippine city of Los Banos. The march lasted from April 9-17, 1942, with Allied prisoners subjected to scarce food and water rations, in addition to beatings and other atrocities. An estimated 600 or so Americans died, with Filipino deaths estimated to be as high as 18,000. 

In 1996 – The St Francis (Ill.) Fighting Saints establish an NCAA all-division record for most runs in a game in a 71-0 victory over the Robert Morris (Ill.) Eagles, an NAIA school. The record still stands and research into whose record the Division II Eagles broke was inconclusive. The Fighting Saints’ 26 first-inning runs established an NCAA all-division record for most runs in an inning that still stands, and Robert Morris decided to call it a day after the fourth inning. The Eagles chipped in 16 errors, which tied the US collegiate record established by NCAA Division III Widener in 1989. 

In 1965 – Roger Miller is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the second of five consecutive weeks with King of the Road. It was the fourth of twelve Top 10 country hits for Miller and was the second and final #1 song in a chart career that spanned from 1960-86. The song also went #1 pop in Norway and Great Britain and peaked at #4 on the Hot 100. In 1997 a version by Randy Travis peaked at #51 on Billboard’s country chart. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Create the individual you admire, then give him to the world.
Wes Watson

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Gene Sarazen won the 1935 Masters, defeating Craig Wood by five strokes in an 18-hole playoff. 

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

Who was the US officer who surrendered American and Filipino forces to the Japanese before the Bataan Death March? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/April 2, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.

OPEN UP THOSE GOLDEN GATES…: A new law in California took effect Monday, raising the pay of certain fast-food workers to $20/hour. This in a state where the minimum wage for everyone else is $16 

The Classic Yay/Boo Scenario: We’re all in favor of raises here at The Daily Dose. In fact, we like to receive them ourselves. However, this is nothing the government should have a hand in; it is something that must be either demanded by the worker or collectively bargained by a union. 

Dry, Technical Matter: The point here is not to discuss the economic effects of minimum wages, about whether or not they do good or whether they merely raise the price of everything to the point where there is no real gain in buying power; we’ve seen credible reports on both sides of the issue. The purpose is to discuss the government’s role in them. 

Get Your Official Daily Dose Policy Right Here: The government must butt out of this. A wage, like any other condition of employment, is an agreement between an employee, or a union, and an employer. The government has no business mandating any other aspect of employment, and they should not be mandating wages, either.

USA! USA! Anyone who is not happy with what they make is free to do three things: 

1. Identify the money they need to make;
2. Find work that pays that much; and 
3. Get the skills and experience required to get that job.

That’s the American way; you get out of this life what you put into it and, frankly, those who are unwilling to put some effort into their working lives deserve what they get at the pay window. Besides, if you’re out of your teens and the minimum wage is still a factor in your life, it is time to reevaluate your job skills. 

The Bottom Line: The Federal government hasn’t raised its minimum wage of $7.50/hour (about $10.85 in today’s dollars) since 2009 so assorted municipalities and states are doing so. And a minimum wage means well. But it is not the government’s job to mandate wages. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has the latest from the hotel’s Information Technology desk. Today’s Diary. 

There are a couple of thumb drives we save reports to: the main one where the nite audit reports are saved and another one for the tax-exempt reports…

———

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 1865 – The Third Battle of Petersburg in the American Civil War is fought with Union troops under Gen. Ulysses S Grant scoring a decisive victory over Confederate troops commanded by Gen. Robert E Lee. The loss was so devastating Lee ordered the evacuation of the Confederate capital of Richmond a few miles north, and the battle marked the end of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign and the start of the Appomattox Campaign, which would eventually end the war. Union forces would occupy Richmond the following day. 

In 1939 – Ralph Guldahl wins the Masters with a final round 69 to beat Sam Snead by one stroke. It was the only Masters win for Guldahl, who also won the US Open in 1937 and 1938, and was the first of two runners-up finishes for Snead, to go along with three Masters titles. Guldahl’s 72-hole total of 279 broke the Masters record of 282 established by Gene Sarazen and Craig Wood in 1935 and the record is now 268 by Dustin Johnson in 2020. 

In 1988 – Terrence Trent D’Arby is at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart – then known as the Hot Black Singles chart – for the only week with Wishing Well. It was the second of four Top 40 soul hits for D’Arby, his first of three Top 10s, and remains his only #1. The song went #1 pop in Canada and The Netherlands, went #4 pop in Great Britain, and later spent a week at #1 on the Hot 100. D’Arby has been recording as Sananda Maitreya since 2005. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Providence is universal, not particular.
Will Durant
The Story of Civilization, Vol X: Rousseau and Revolution

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The Bee Gees first #1 song on Billboard’s Hot 100 was How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, which spent four weeks at #1 in 1971. 

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

Who won the 1935 Masters? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!