The Daily Dose, Monday, March 11, 2024
The Daily Dose/March 11, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
CAPSULE BOOK REVIEW: The Clowns of God, by Morris West: This is the third book of West’s that we read, following The Shoes of the Fisherman and Emminence, both books about popes, cardinals, and other Catholics. This column was on hiatus during that time, but had we reviewed them, they would have received high marks. Both were thoughtful novels written by a professional storyteller with a point to make. It’s why you read.
Fly In The Ointment: This one, though, good gravy. Plot the first two books and this one on a graph and you’ve got a perpendicular line. This wasn’t a story so much as a collection of vacuous characters in situations that usually didn’t ring true, issuing dialogue that was stilted, formulaic, and banal.
ROTFLMAO: Also, the exclamation point is used to the point of irritation, foreshadowing teenagers texting and Facebook posts about pizza by a generation!
Dry, Technical Matter: This was too bad because the plot, as far as there was one, was rather intriguing. In the first paragraph, the pope is forced to abdicate because the consistory thinks he is bonkers for wanting to reveal a vision he said God gave him about the impending end of the world via nuclear annihilation. The rest of the book is spent trying to get the message out to the world.
He Is Risen: About halfway through, the Son of Man returns to Earth as a physical therapist and reveals himself at the end, a brilliant plot twist that was also witlessly handled.
Oh, What The Hell: Towards the end of this tedious, annoying story, you start to think nuclear annihilation is a reasonable option and wish that someone would get the missiles flying just to rid us of these tedious, annoying people.
Here Is The Official Daily Dose Rating Scale: A – The very best; B – Very good; C – Good; D – OK; F – A steaming pile.
Final Ranking: C: We almost gave it a D, but West still provided enough of his usual wisdom to level The Clowns of God up a notch.
The Bottom Line: About a third of the way through we started to wondering why this book wasn’t as good as the others. We concluded that the first two books were about popes and cardinals and here West was in his element: a Catholic writing about his church. Here, though, after the first few pages, there is only an ex-pope and a bunch of Europeans, and West was Australian, and he never really nails them.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow gets a rather tactical lesson in how to use the new machine at the gym. Today’s Diary.
You want to be careful not to get caught scoping the gal out because she’s lying flat and making motions that would cause some guys to leave dollar bills…
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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 1946 – Rudolf Höss, longtime commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp, is captured by British troops in northern Germany. Höss had evaded capture for over a year and was later turned over to Polish authorities, where he stood trial, was convicted of war crimes and was hanged the following April. By his own estimation, Höss supervised the direct killing of 2.5 million people by gassing or burning, while another half-million died of disease or starvation.
In 1892 – The first public basketball game is played in Springfield, Massachusetts, with students of the local YMCA defeating the faculty 5-1. The game was rather physical, with the Springfield Republican referring to the game as a “Basket Football Game”, with future football Hall of Famer Amos Alonzo Stagg getting called for numerous fouls. Dr. James Naismith published the first basketball rules in January, and basketball became a permanent Olympic sport in 1936.
In 1967 – The Monkees are at #1 on the Billboard album chart – then known as the Hot LPs chart – for the fifth of 18 consecutive weeks with More of the Monkees. It was the second of twelve chart albums for the group, their second of five Top 10s, and their second of four #1s, all consecutive. The album was their second of four #1s for 1967, a calendar year record that still stands. The album also went to #1 in Great Britain and produced two chart singles, including the #1 I’m A Believer.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
It is neither wealth nor splendor, but tranquility and occupation, which give happiness.
Thomas Jefferson
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The NBA player not in the Hall of Fame who has committed the most personal fouls is Caldwell Jones, who committed 4,436 – a total good for fifth all-time – between 1973-90.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
When did basketball make its first appearance at the Olympics? – Answer next time!
The Diary of a Nobody/March 10
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life…
Sunday, March 10
I hate springing forward…We don’t really have an opinion one way or the other on daylight saving time – we’ve never not had it, so it’s part of the family – but going from 0200 to 0300 really throws your schedule off regardless of how the nite’s going.
The Daily Dose/Sunday, March 10, 2024
The Daily Dose/March 10, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.
The Sunday Bottom 5 will return.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Hotel rates can be funny. Today’s Diary.
He said guests actually LOL’d when he quoted the original rate of $650, plus tax, and that later guests found the new, priced-to-move rate of $575 somewhat funny, too…
———
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 1876 – The telephone is used for the first time, when Alexander Graham Bell calls his assistant Thomas Watson who was in another room at Bell’s Boston laboratory. Bell had received his patent for the telephone three days earlier, an application that had been filed in February, the same day, though a bit later, than Elisha Gray had filed an intent to file a patent. The two completed History’s first trans-continental call in 1915, with Bell in New York and Watson in San Francisco.
In 1987 – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers becomes the NBA’s all-time leader in personal fouls in a 143-107 win over the Denver Nuggets. Abdul-Jabbar’s first quarter charging foul was the 4,194th of his career, breaking the record established by Elvin Hayes from 1968-84. Abdul-Jabbar would retire in with 4,657, a mark that still stands, and Hayes’ total is now good for ninth on the all-time list.
1962 – Hey Baby by Bruce Channel (pronounced Shu-nell) is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of three consecutive weeks. The song was Channel’s first chart single, and while he had four other Hot 100 entries, Hey Baby remains his only Top 40 hit. The song also peaked at #2 on Billboard’s soul chart, at #2 in Great Britain, and in 1982 Anne Murray took it to #7 on Billboard’s country chart, making it one of the few songs to hit on all three major Billboard singles charts. Channel disliked touring and later had a successful career as a songwriter.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
So nigh is grandeur to our dust/So near is God to man/When duty whispers low, Thou must/The youth replies, I can
Emerson
Voluntaries
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The NBA record for fewest wins in a season is six, by the Providence Steam Rollers, who went 6-42 in 1947-48. The record for an 82-game season is nine, by the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What NBA player not in the Hall of Fame committed the most personal fouls? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Saturday, March 9, 2024
The Daily Dose/March 9, 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 leaves the house. Today’s Diary.
At about 1030 we started getting cabin fever because we’d been in the house pretty much exclusively since Tuesday morning…So we made three trips…
———
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 1841 – The US Supreme Court rules in the case of the US vs The Amistad that slaves who revolted and took charge of the ship were free. The Amistad had been captured near Long Island, NY, after the slaves had taken over the ship in 1839. In 1840, a Federal district court had ruled the slaves had acted as free men, but both international and Southern state pressure caused President Millard Fillmore to order an appeal to the Supreme Court. The slaves were later returned to Africa.
In 1960 – The Boston Celtics extend their NBA record for most wins a season in a 148-128 win over the New York Knicks. It was the 59th win of the season for the Celtics, who earlier had eclipsed the mark of 51 wins by the 1949-50 Syracuse Nationals. The Celtics finished with a 59-16 record and defeated the Philadelphia Warriors in the playoffs before defeating the St Louis Hawks in seven games for the NBA title. The record is now held by the Golden State Warriors, who 73 games in the 2015-16 season.
In 1974 – Terry Jacks is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second of three consecutive weeks with Seasons in the Sun. It was the first of three chart singles for Jacks and remains his only Top 40 hit. The song went to #1 in 17 other countries – including Israel, Norway, and Great Britain – and was Billboard’s 2nd-biggest song of the year. The song was written in a Tunisian brothel by Belgian Jaques Brel.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Lost in the cacophony of Oprah and O.J. are those classical values that once made a Saturday afternoon track meet so appealing. Of running for the love of competition, of throwing a javelin for applause and an olive wreath. Of sweating for hours on a lonesome track at dusk for the chance of maybe one day hearing the anthem. Of honor and glory and the spirit of victory, not the spoils.
Mark Zeigler
The San Diego Union-Tribune
6/20/95
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution ended slavery in Kentucky, Delaware, and New Jersey.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What is the NBA record for the fewest wins in a season? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Friday, March 8, 2024
The Daily Dose/March, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
STOP US IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS BEFORE: For the third consecutive election, Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. A hundred years from now, all new people will look back at this and – like some of us now – collectively scratch their heads.
USA! USA!: They will note how Trump was a man of no political, moral, or intellectual substance. They will note how he was a liar and an ignoramus. They will note how, during his first term, he presided over an incompetent COVID response, incited an insurrection, and was impeached twice. They will note his 91 indictments after leaving office.
Oh Yeah: They will also note how this was not a detriment to renomination because Trump had every politician’s dream: a media that declined to take him to task and a base that believed everything he said.
USA! USA! II: You can write off his base. Billionaire blatherskites have held sway over people for ages. You cannot write off his acceptance by the American media, though, because there was a time when an idiot like Trump would’ve been rejected by the press.
Fly In The Ointment: That time, however, has passed.
Ladies And Gentlemen Of The Jury: Could you imagine an American press paced by Walter Cronkite, Woodward and Bernstein, John Chancellor, and any of a dozen other journalists of the era tolerating Trump? Of course, you couldn’t. They would have had him out of the race by the weekend.
Back To The Future: Trump, however, meant ratings and clicks, so he was ushered right into the 2016 primaries, where the idiocy didn’t stop. Then his admission that he grabbed women by the pussy proved not to be a hindrance to being elected. An incompetent COVID response and two impeachments merely solidified his greatness amongst his base.
The Bottom Line: Donald Trump, though, is just a symptom of the problem.
America is in a mess because you and me – we the people – continue to tolerate this. It’s common to blame incumbents, lobbyists, or the media, but on Election Day, we keep accepting what the media and incumbents choose to spoonfeed us, and we have nobody to blame but ourselves. Collectively, we are well-fed and well-entertained, and that’s what matters in America right now. We’re in a post-knowledge America now. We accept lying and idiocy now.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow feeds the cat. A lot. Today’s Diary.
…the cat has decided that with Daddy home more, there is no reason her yummy/treat issues shouldn’t be upped, and it’s to the point where she is all but demanding a continuous yummy/treat buffet.
———
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 first newspaper article in the American colonies calling for the abolition of slavery is published. The article was anonymous, though History would not die from shock if it turned out to have been written by Thomas Paine, and criticized, among other things, those who would use the Bible as a defense of slavery. It didn’t do much good, as slavery would not be abolished in the US until the 13th Amendment was ratified in December 1865.
In 1945 – Syd Howe of the Detroit Red Wings establishes an NHL record for most career points in a 7-3 victory over the New York Rangers. Howe had a third-period assist, giving him 516 career points, breaking the record established by Nels Stewart from 1925-40. The mark was broken in 1947 by Bill Cowley and is now held by Wayne Gretzky with 2,857.
In 1980 – Queen is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the third of four consecutive weeks with Crazy Little Thing Called Love. The song also went to #1 in Canada, the Netherlands, and Australia, peaked at #2 in Great Britain, and was Billboard’s 6th-biggest song of the year. It was the fifth of twelve Top 40 hits for the group, their second of four Top 10s, and their first of two #1s. The song last appeared on a Billboard chart in 2018 when it peaked at #18 on the Hot Rock and Alternative Songs chart.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Work is not always required… there is such thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected.
George MacDonald
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The Beatles had 14 #1 albums in Great Britain.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
What two states had slavery abolished when the 13th Amendment was ratified? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Thursday, March 7, 2024
The Daily Dose/March 7, 2024
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
HERE WE GO AGAIN: This really isn’t a bulletin, but barring planetary alignment and divine intervention, it will be Joe Biden vs Donald Trump once again this November.
Ladies And Gentlemen Of The Jury: Has the American electorate ever had worse choices than President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump? We don’t think so,
FunFact: One, forget our following points, both men are old. Trump will be 78 on Election Day and Biden will be 81 and both are starting to lose their cognitive abilities. This alone should have caused us to dismiss them, respectfully, out of hand.
Dry, Technical Matter: This November, we have two choices: the perpetual war offered by Joe Biden (and by Trump, too, frankly) and the perpetual stupidity offered by Trump. Let’s hope we have the wisdom to choose wisely.
In The Blue Corner: America has been at war continuously since 1989 and almost daily since World War II 80 years ago. No nation has survived perpetual war and America will not be the first. We have until this half-century is out, maybe, to get our act together before our country collapses and America is tossed aside the scrap heal of history along with, among others, the Roman Empire and the Soviet Union.
USA! USA!: Neither Biden nor Trump will stop this. War will continue to be America’s calling card.
And In The Red Corner: Donald Trump is stupid. He believes, among other things, that the moon is part of Mars, that the Revolution was won by the securing of British airports, and that Colorado borders Mexico. He also lies constantly and admits to grabbing women by the pussy. He has been indicted 91 times since leaving office.
The Bottom Line: We deserve better than both these choices, but we’re not demanding better right now. America is seven decades into television, and now the internet, being the focal point of American life and we are seeing the consequences of that now: an American media and an American electorate that now embraces perpetual war and perpetual stupidity.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow enjoys Day 2 of his 4-dayer. Today’s Diary.
The gym was the only time we left the house…
———
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 161 – Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus – adoptive brothers – ascend the throne of the Roman Empire following the death of Antonius Pius. The Roman Senate was prepared to elect Aurelius emperor, but he refused to rule unless Verus was co-emperor. Despite some minor differences, the two ruled amicably until Verus died of natural causes in 169 and Aurelius died in 180. Rome would continue to have co-emperors until the fourth century.
In 1857 – A convention of baseball players in New York City adopts new rules, including two still in force: nine innings for a game and 90 feet between bases. Previously, winners had been determined by the first team to score a certain number of runs – 21 in the original 1945 Knickerbocker rules – and bases had been measured off as 42 paces between home plate and second base and between first and third bases.
In 1965 – The Beatles are at #1 on Billboard’s Top LPs chart – a predecessor to the Billboard 200 – for the fourth of eleven consecutive weeks with Meet The Beatles. It was the fourth of 21 chart albums for the group and their first of 19 #1 albums, totals that include albums originally issued in Great Britain. The album produced three chart singles, including I Wanna Hold Your Hand, which was in its sixth of seven consecutive weeks at #1 on the Hot 100.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
I believed in what I did so much, I couldn’t believe there were people who couldn’t hear it.
Barry Manilow
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The NHL record for most assists in a game with multiple goals scored is six, done three times by Paul Coffey, Mario Lemieux, and Bernie Nichols. They all had six assists in a game where they scored two goals.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
How many #1 albums did the Beatles have in Great Britain? – Answer next time!