The Daily Dose/May 28, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.

1. US Government – Another debt ceiling bill snuck in just under the wire…Thanks guys for the latest partisan, fractured, and bickering imbroglio that gives the impression you would have trouble agreeing on a resolution saying the sun rises in the east…Who can blame you, though, because we keep electing you…Were we expecting anything different? 

2. Iowa – Long-time state bravely rolls back child labor laws due to low unemployment, now letting kids to, among other things, work longer on school nights and serve booze in restaurants…Iowa Governor Kim “Clock In” Reynolds telling herself it’s OK by saying it will allow youngins to “develop their skills in the workforce,”

3. #USA! #USA! – The 3-hole staple…Twelve (12) more mass shootings – defined as shooting wounding or killing at least four (4) – since last Sunday…Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters “pretty sure” these will continue as long as we allow 2nd Amendment to remain license to hold any weapon mankind can produce and as long as our government and entertainment remain also remain violent. 

4. Miami Heat/Boston Celtics – Lack of crystal ball prevents Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters – lousy prognosticators anyway – from healding either Celtic’s comeback for the ages or Heat’s greatest collapse ever, though they “strongly suspect” that either Celtics will finish it off or Heat will pull it off…Either way, rested Denver Nuggets will wipe floor with either of them. 

5. Fake News – Click here to see what some wizards amongst us were actually believing this week…Runs occasionally when Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters can’t come up with sufficient material…Courtesy of the AP? 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

It’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary.

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow wonders what the deal is with the robins. Today’s Diary.

Recall they were in residence in their nest on the electric meter next to the kitchen door when we got back from vacation, and that usually indicates a stay of at least a month, but lately we haven’t seen either mom or dad around the nest…

———

Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

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 1934 – The Dionne Quintuplets are born in Callander, Ontario, the sixth through tenth of 13 children born to Oliva and Elzire Dionne. They were later made wards of the Crown, with the province of Ontario turning them into tourist attractions. The sisters would later become the first quintuplets to survive infancy, with all making it to adulthood, with two sisters, now 88, still living. 

In 1995 – The Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers establish a new major league record for most home runs in a game in a 14-12 White Sox win. The teams combined for twelve home runs, seven by the Tigers, and research into whose record they broke was inconclusive. The two teams would tie the record in 2002 and the all-time major league record is 13, by the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019. 

In 1983 – Irene Cara is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the first of six consecutive weeks with Flashdance…What a Feeling. It remains the only #1 song for Cara and was her third of six Top 40 hits and her second of three Top 10s. The song went to #1 in 13 other countries, including Japan, Norway, and Portugal, peaked at #2 in Great Britain, was Billboard’s 3rd-biggest song of the year, and its 6th-biggest of the 1980s. The song was written by Cara, Keith Forsey, and Giorgio Moroder. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

She does not strive and is therefore successful/It is exactly because she does not contend, that nobody can contend with her.
Lao Tzu
Tao Te Ching, #22

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Besides Rick Mears, the other drivers to win the Indianapolis 500 four times are A.J. Foyt, Al Unser, and Helio Castroneves. 

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

What was Billboard’s #1 song for 1983? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/May 27, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off is on hiatus while we work on a project.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – The acoustics in the new county building continue to make every chat sound like armageddon. 

…and it was loud enuff so that not for the first time ol’ Sparrow was obliged to turn up the volume on whatever crap he was watching. 

———

Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

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 1930 – The Chrysler Building in New York City opens, the tallest building in the world at 1,046 feet. Located at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 43rd Street on the east side of Manhattan, it would be the tallest building in the world for eleven months, eclipsed by the Empire State Building the following May 1. The record is now held by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, at 2,717 feet.

In 1979 – Rick Mears wins the Indianapolis 500, taking the lead for good with 18 laps remaining and beating A.J. Foyt and Mike Mosely. The race was shrouded in some controversy, including problems with qualifying and equipment, plus a squabble between sanctioning bodies USAC and CART. It was the first of a record-tying four Indy titles for Mears, who was the first winner born after World War II. 

In 1967 – The Young Rascals are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second and final consecutive week with Groovin’. The song also went to #1 in Canada, peaked at #8 in Great Britain, at #3 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s 9th-biggest song of the year. It was the fourth of 13 Top 40 hits for the group, their third of seven Top 10 hits and their second of three #1s. Later in the year, an instrumental version by Booker T. and the M.G.s peaked at #21 on the Hot 100 and at #10 on the soul chart. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

No man ever followed his genius till it misled him.
Henry David Thoreau
Walden

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Madonna has not had a #1 song on Billboard’s soul chart. Her biggest soul hit has been Like a Virgin, which went to #9 in 1985. 

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

Who are the other drivers that have won the Indianapolis 500 four times? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/May 26, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Bonus project work continues. So does The Daily Dose’s hiatus.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow switches protein powders. Today’s Diary. 

Recall we had been using a plant-based protein powder, mainly because it was sugar-free…The problem tho, was it didn’t mix very well and there was always some powder – and a good amount of it – left at the bottom…Plus, since it was sugar-free – it tasted like poured concrete…

———

Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

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 1896 – The first of what would become the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is published by Charles Dow. The index consisted of twelve components, the last of which, General Electric, left the index in 2018. Dow’s first listing of stock averages had been promulgated in 1884, an average of what is now known as the Dow Jones Transporation Average. Today the DJIA has 30 components. 

In 1923 – The first 24 Hours of Le Mans begins in northern France. The race was run on public roads and in no small amount of rain, with Andre Legache and Rene Leonard the winning drivers, completing 118 laps. The winningest driver is Ton Kristensen of Denmark with nine wins and Porsche is the winningest manufacturer with 19 wins. The race is officially known as the 24 Hours Gran Prix of Endurance and the next one will be run in June. 

In 1990 – Madonna is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second of three consecutive weeks with Vogue. It was the 21st of 49 Top 40 hits for Madonna, her 19th of 38 Top 10 hits, and her 8th of twelve #1s. The song also went to #1 in twelve other countries, including Greece, Norway, and Great Britain, peaked at #16 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s 5th-biggest song of the year. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

No man’s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.
John Locke

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The Beatles’ version of Kansas City peaked at #75 on the Cash Box pop chart – long a chronicler of American music – in December 1965. 

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

How many #1 songs has Madonna had on Billboard’s soul chart? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/May 25, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

We’re working on another infernal project; your Daily Dose will return.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has the latest from the new county building. Today’s Diary.

…an element compounded by the acoustics in the building, which are either horrendous or fabulous depending on your feelings on sound being amplified to a loud roar.

———

Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

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 240 BC – Halley’s comet is definitively recorded for the first time, by the Chinese, who recorded the comet as a “broom star”. It was identified as a regularly appearing comet in 1705 by English scientist Edmond Halley and its closest approach to Earth was 3.07 million miles in 837 AD. Currently, the comet is out past the orbit of Neptune, 18 degrees below the plane of the ecliptic, and close to starting its return journey toward the sun. The comet’s orbit last 76 years, last appeared in 1986, and will return in 2061. 

In 1965 – Muhammed Ali defends his WBC and WBA world heavyweight titles with a first-round knockout of Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine. It remains one of the most iconic fights of the era, with the fight immediately suspected by some of being fixed, suspicions that remained unfounded and betting patterns before the fight were not considered suspicious. Ali had defeated Liston for the title in February 1964 and would defend his title eight more times before being stripped of it in 1967 and this was the last title fight for Liston. 

In 1959 – Wilbert Harrison is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second and final consecutive week with Kansas City. It was the first of four Hot 100 hits for Harrison and his only #1 and the song was also in its third of seven consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart. The song has hit a variety of American charts over the years, including Hot 100 versions by James Brown, Trini Lopez, and Little Richard.

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Hitler accepted his forced retirement from public life much as he had his imprisonment and took advantage of its opportunities.
John Toland
Adolf Hitler

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The major league record for most grand slam home runs in a season is six, done twice, by Don Mattingly in 1987 and Travis Hafner in 2006. 

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

Where and when did the Beatles’ version of Kansas City chart in the US? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!

The Daily Dose/May 24, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience. 

Leading Off remains on hiatus.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

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

There was only one thing to do, of course: put some air in the tire…So we went to the convenience store and while doing so noticed a screw embedded in there and your last name doesn’t have to be “Firestone” to know this is bad…

———

Click here to get in on the laughs.
4Ever & Ever ($8.99) and monthly ($2.99) plans available.

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 1940 – The first helicopter flight is made when Igor Sikorsky flies a single-engine machine 20 feet in the air and 200 feet forward at Bridgeport, Connecticut. Sikorsky, born in Ukraine, had come to the US in 1919 and had been designing helicopters since 1909 and this success would lead to the first mass-produced helicopter two years later. History’s earliest references to vertical flight are bamboo flying toys in China around 400 BC. 

In 1936 – Tony Lazzeri of the New York Yankees establishes a new major league record for most grand slam home runs in a game in a 25-2 win over the Philadelphia Athletics. Lazerri hit two grand slams to break the record of one that had been done many times previously. The record still stands had has been done twelve times since. Lazzeri also established an American League record with eleven RBIs, another record that still stands. 

In 1980 – Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the fourth of six consecutive weeks with Against the Wind. It was the twelfth of 20 chart albums for Seger and remains his only #1. The album produced four chart singles, including the Top 10s Against the Wind and Fire Lake and the album also peaked at #26 in Great Britain. Prior to hitting #1, the album had spent five weeks at #2. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…you can never enslave a reluctant people without first charming them. Certainly you must convince them that your way is their way and that the chains you have forged for them are necessary ornaments.
Gore Vidal
Creation

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The record for most weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart is 20, done twice, by Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus with Old Town Road in 2019 and by Kill Bill by SZA, which is currently in its 20th non-consecutive week at #1. 

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

Who holds the major league record for most grand slam home runs in a season? – Answer next time!

Share Gaylon! Go!