The Daily Dose/Sunday, July 9, 2023
The Daily Dose/July 9, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.
1. Fair Tax – Act that would replace income tax with national sales tax a thing in Congress again…Three (3) problems that come to mind concern rebate check that would be sent to everyone at the first of the month: 1) having every American home waiting for a government check every month is not what this country stands for; 2) it would be a fraud magnet, and, 3) if you really need to help citizens pay a tax the tax is probably excessive in the first place
2. The Failed Promise by Robert S Levine – Book about BFFs abolitionist Frederick Douglass and noted racist President Andrew Johnson and how Johnson did his part to screw Blacks almost as much as slavery did…A decent account of Johnson’s impeachment, too…Final Rating: 2, Very Good…(Scale is 1-5, with one being mankind’s finest hour, 3 being Good, and 5 being a Steaming Pile.
3. Mass Shootings – The 3-hole staple…Triumphant numbers from American shooting gallery last week, with no less than 26 (26) shootings with at least four (4) injuries or deaths…A whopping 144 were injured, most in celebrating American independence on the 4th, though only 24 deaths less than one (1) death per shooting, a number NRA pledges to increase…100 years from now all new people will marvel at how America stood by and did nothing about the slaughter.
4. Global Warming – Three (3) hottest days in human history were this week with 63° F mark six (6) degrees above average for past 12,000 years…Even Antarctica getting into the act, with some temperatures above zero in the dead of winter, though Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters remain “pretty sure” that Vostock Station low of minus-97 still “like, you know, really cold and stuff”.
5. Russian Mutiny – Russia tough to fathom right now: be its neighbor and mind your own business and get invaded, but head up a mercenary force that conducts a mutiny – like Yevgeny Prigozhin – and you’re not so much as scolded.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
Sure, Read Free Sunday (RFS) is a thing at The Diary today.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow is looking forward to getting back to normal in the sack. Today’s Diary.
Indeed, the forecast is for routine weeks for the foreseeable future, and we’re looking forward to the sleep numbers returning to normal…We know you are, too…
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It’s easy reading on any device.
———
On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1762 – Catherine the Great becomes Empress of Russia after overthrowing her husband Peter III. Catherine had been born into the Prussian ruling family and had arrived in Russia at age 16, eager to make herself worthy of the throne and she married Peter the following year. Peter had assumed the throne in January and would died on July 17, though History is unclear as to how. Catherine never remarried, though she had many lovers, and reigned until 1796.
In 1960 – The Havana Sugar Kings of the Triple-A International League (IL) are moved to Jersey City, New Jersey following the nationalization of all American businesses by Fidel Castro during the Cuban Revolution. The Sugar Kings had started in the Florida International League (Class C) in 1946 and joined the IL in 1954. The team would later move to Jacksonville and today are still in the IL as the Norfolk Tides.
In 1955 – The Rock Era in American popular music begins when Bill Haley and His Comets are at #1 on Billboard’s Best Sellers in Stores chart – a predecessor to the Hot 100 – for the first of eight consecutive weeks with Rock Around the Clock. It was the third of 15 Top 40 hits for the group and remains their only #1 song. The song also went to #1 in Australia and Great Britain, peaked at #4 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s second-biggest song of the year.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Quality is achieving and reaching for the highest standard as against being satisfied with the sloppy or fraudulent. It is honesty of purpose as against catering to cheap or sensational sentiment. It does not allow compromise with the second rate.
Barbara Tuchman
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The last military draft in the US ended in 1973.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Which was the last team outside of the US to play in the International League? – Answer next time!
The Diary of a Nobody/July 8
Cheapskates rejoice! It’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary.
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life…
Saturday, July 8
Gina and I had a moderately funny moment when we reported for duty at the hotel…We had just entered the front desk from the back office and noticed there was one running shoe and the counter.
The Daily Dose/Saturday, July 8, 2023
The Daily Dose/July 8, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
The Daily Dose will return Sunday. Promise.
Click here to read today’s entry in The Diary of a Nobody.
The Daily Dose/Friday, July 7, 2023
The Daily Dose/Thursday, July 6
The Daily Dose/July 6, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
Leading Off will return.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow takes a guest into the hotel’s laundry room. Today’s Diary.
…he feigns wonderment…[and] then asks if we will have to kill him now and we chuckle and face him with both hands up as if they were claws ready to attack.
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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 1863 – The first military draft in the United States begins, to help man the Union Army in the Civil War. Of the 2.2 million men who served in the Union, about 8% were either draftees or their substitutes, which could be purchased for $300, about $7,200 in today’s money. A similar proposal in the Confederacy failed, with protesters complaining that – get this – a draft was just like slavery. Previously in the US, states had conscripted residents, with indifferent success, to fill spaces in their militias and an attempt to conduct a draft during the War of 1812 was blocked by Congress.
In 1887 – Lottie Dod of Great Britain wins the Wimbledon ladies’ single title, defeating defending champion Blanche Bingley (Great Britain) 6-2, 6-0. It was the first of five Wimbledon titles for Dodd and was the second of seven runner-up finishes for Bingley, who also won six titles. Dod was 15 at the time and remains the youngest Grand Slam champion ever. She won the Ladies British Amateur golf championship in 1904, the first and only woman to win both tournaments.
In 2019 – Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus are at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the 13th of a Hot 100 record 19 consecutive weeks with Old Town Road. The song went to #1 in 18 other countries, including China, Norway, and Great Britain, and was also in its 13th of a record 20 consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart, a mark now held by Kill Bill by SZA (21 weeks, 2022-23). It was the first of three #1s for Lil Nas X and remains Cyrus’ only #1 pop hit. Cyrus joined Elvis Presley, the Everly Brothers, and Ray Charles as the only acts to have #1 songs on the Hot 100 and Billboard country and soul charts.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
He that can take rest is greater than he that can take cities.
Benjamin Franklin
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Eight British prime ministers have served terms of less than one year. The most recent was Liz Truss last year.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
When did the last military draft in the US end? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/Wednesday, July 5, 2023
The Daily Dose/July 5, 2023
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around our human experience.
This is a bulletin: Leading Off will return
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow finds something out. Today’s Diary.
The big news is we learned DDDDs real name…I am not making that up…
———
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 1945 – The United Kingdom holds its first General Election in ten years with the Labour Party earning 393 of the 640 seats in the House of Commons. Clement Attlee was elected prime minister, replacing Conservative Party leader Winston Churchill, who had served throughout World War II and Attlee would serve until 1951 when he would be replaced by Churchill. A total of 25 parties had at least one candidate stand for election with 15 winning at least one seat.
In 1946 – Sam Snead of the US wins the British Open, shooting a final round 75 to win by two strokes at the Old Course at St Andrews in Scotland. It was the first and only British Open title for Snead and was his second of seven Grand Slam wins and his 75 remains the highest final-round score by a major winner. Snead retired in 1965 with a record 82 tour victories, a mark later tied by Tiger Woods.
In 1980 – Billy Joel is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the fourth of six consecutive weeks with Glass Houses. It was the sixth of 24 chart albums for Joel and his second of four #1s. The album also went to #1 in Iceland and Canada, peaked at #9 in Great Britain, and was Billboard’s 4th-biggest album of the year. It produced four chart singles, including the #1 It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
Genius does what it must, talent does what it can.
Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Billboard’s #1 song for 1964 was I Want to Hold Your Hand by the Beatles, which spent seven weeks at #1.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
How many British prime ministers, not including the current one, served less than one year? – Answer next time!