The Daily Dose/July 24, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things. 

1. Donald Trump – Trump’s utter incompetence on display at January 6 hearings as Trump – as delusional and ignorant as ever – totally unable to install right-wing dictatorship in executive branch (like the one he installed at the Supreme Court) despite having sufficient people to storm capitol. 

2. College Football – What remains of NCAA authorizes unlimited transfers for athletes, instead of only one…As noted last week, everyone associated with major division college athletics – players, coaches, universities, networks, conferences – now in it solely to make as much money as possible, a situation that History shows sometimes ends in collapse….Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters “pretty sure” it can’t be too long before players orgainze, to demand more tha NIL mere pittances. 

3. USA! USA! – The new 3-hole staple…Country still far closer to the oblivion that awaits it than the prosperity, influence it once had because no nation can survive perpetual war, deep social divide, and an utter lack of national vision forever…Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters “strongly suspect” America has until half-century is out to show it can govern itself before someone comes in and does it for us.  

4. Baseball’s All-Star Game – Game that use to draw over 20 million viewers draws all-time low of 7.5 million for 2022 edition…Butt-ugly uniforms could’ve been a factor, but fading interest in former national pastime in play, too. 

5. Fake News – Click here for roundup of nonsense some wizards amongst us were believing this week…From the AP.  

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

Yes, it’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary.

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow deals with a demented woman at the hotel. Today’s Diary. 

…boy, the truly demented could be tuff once you get them in-house because you never know when they’re going to call up and report a yak under their bed or demand room service deliver fresh ink for their fountain pens.

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

In 1998 – Russell Weston, Jr, enters the US Capitol and shoots and kills two Capitol police officers and wounds another officer and a civilian. Six years earlier Weston had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and would later be deemed unfit to stand trial. Weston would later say he committed the shootings to prevent the US from being ruined by disease and cannibals. He remains in civil confinement. 

In 1968 – Hoyt Wilhelm of the Chicago White Sox establishes a new major league record for most appearances by a pitcher in a 1-0 loss to the Oakland Athletics. Wilhelm appeared in his 907th career game, breaking the record established by Cy Young, who had first set the mark in 1905. Wilhelm retired after the 1972 season with 1,070 games pitched. The record was broken in 1998 by Dennis Eckersley and is now held by Jesse Orosco, with 1,252 games pitched. 

In 1961 – Bobby Lewis is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the third of seven consecutive weeks with Tossin’ and Turnin’. It was the first of two Top 40 hits for Lewis and remains his only #1 song. The song was also in its fourth of ten weeks at #1 on Billboard’s soul chart, was Billboard’s biggest hit of the year, its fourth-biggest of the decade, and it placed 36th on Billboard’s 60th anniversary Hot 100 chart in 2018. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

Every man is free to do that which he wills, provided he infringes not on the equal freedom of any other man.
Herbert Spencer

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Billboard’s #1 song of 1966 was California Dreamin’ by the Mamas and the Papas. 

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

When did Hoyt Wilhelm make his major league debut? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/July 23, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

YEAH, THESE ARE BULLETINS: Let’s be honest, the January 6 hearing are not really telling us anything we didn’t already know or at least strongly suspect. Namely that Donald Trump instigated, planned, and led the insurrection, that he is delusional and ignorant, and is able to make people who really should know better do his bidding, as wealthy bullies have been doing since time immemorial.  

Dry, Technical Matter: Donald Trump’s entire public life has been a litany of ignorance and selfishness, so who exactly was expecting competent government and rational decision-making out of him? The only thing we can expect from Trump is 1) that he will say whatever is on the top of his head regardless of whether or not it makes any sense and, 2) that he will do whatever gets him the most attention. Both of these elements are showcased in the Jan 6 hearings and Trump remains as lousy a human being (Non-Dictator/Non-Mass Murderer Division) as our species has produced.

Standard Internet Disclaimer: Now, it’s important to note that witnesses are not being cross-examined but this is not a trial, it’s a hearing. It might very well, and should, lead to a trial for Trump because his acts were treasonous, though we doubt he can be tried for being criminally stupid for believing Vice President Pence could overturn the election.  

The Bottom Line: This should never have happened. A real media would’ve had Trump out of the race in five days. But we don’t have a real media anymore, we have entertainers pandering to us. As it was, though, Trump meant ratings and clicks, and the media escorted him straight to the primaries and then the general election and the White House. Why this ignorant blatherskite –  a man utterly lacking in either intellectual curiosity and substance, a man who believes the Revolution was won by the securing of British airports,  continues to be given the time of day by America will always remain a mystery for the ages. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – At the gym, Sparrow has a Sunday Yapper sighting. Today’s Diary. 

…our first in ages, perhaps the first of the year…We didn’t recognize him at first, but then the voice sounded familiar so we looked again and the shock of white hair was familiar, too, but you didn’t recognize him right off because he’d lost weight, and no small amount of it, either, because you could no longer pitch batting practice off his gut…

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

In 1967 – The Detroit Riots begin in the early morning hours at the intersection of 12th Street and Clairmount Ave. when police raid an after-hours drinking club. Eighty-two arrests were made and the riot was instigated by a doorman who incited the crown outside and threw a bottle at a police officer. The riot lasted five days and resulted in 43 deaths, over 1,100 injuries, and over 400 buildings destroyed. It was the largest riot in the US since the 1863 New York City draft riots and until the 1992 Los Angeles riots. 

In 1976 – The Pittsburgh Steelers defeat the College All-Stars 24-0 at Soldier Field in Chicago in a game called in the third quarter due to torrential rain. It was the final game in the preseason series which featured the defending NFL or Super Bowl champion against the All-Stars. The series began in 1934 with a 0-0 tie between the All-Stars and the Chicago Bears and over the years the All-Stars managed to win nine games, the last in 1963. The game was started by Chicago Tribune sports editor Arch Ward, who also started baseball’s All-Star game.  

In 1966 – Tommy James and the Shondells is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 for the second and final consecutive week with Hanky Panky. The song also went to #1 in Canada, peaked at #38 in Great Britain, at #39 on Billboard’s soul chart, and was Billboard’s 19th-biggest song of the year. It was the first chart single for the group, their first of seven Top 10 hits, and their first of two #1s (Crimson and Clover, two weeks, 1969).

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.
Richard P. Feynman
1965 Nobel Prize Laureate in Physics.

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

The second major league pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters after Walter Johnson was Bob Gibson of the St Louis Cardinals. 

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

What was Billboard’s biggest song of 1966? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/July 22, 2022
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 lastest gas mileage figure for the new ride. Today’s Diary. 

We filled up heading out of the big city and it turned out Dave’s a whiz with numbers…I’d punched in the mileage figure before filling up and I told Dave both the figure and the reason why and when I came back in the car to enter the number of gallons he instantly knew that it would be short of 40 mpg – “39 and something” – while the best ol’ Sparrow could do was that it would be pretty close …

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Click here for complimentary chapters of all of Gaylon’s books.
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On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.  

In 1706 – A treaty that would become the Acts of Union of 1707 are agreed to by representatives of the kingdoms of England and Scotland. The treaty would be passed by both parliaments and the two countries would become Great Britain on May 1, 1707. The union would last until 1801 when Ireland joined and this union lasted until 1927, when Ireland left, and has been the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since. 

In 1923 – Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators becomes the first major league pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters with a 6th-inning strikeout of Stan Covelski in a 3-1 win over the Cleveland Indians. Johnson would retire in 1927 with 3,509 strikeouts, a mark that lasted until it was broken by Nolan Ryan in 1983, a mark that was topped by Steve Carlton later that season, with Ryan breaking it for good in 1984. Ryan retired in 1993 with 5,714 strikeouts.

In 1978 – The soundtrack to the movie Grease is at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart for the first of twelve non-consecutive weeks. The album went to #1 in many other countries including Norway and Great Britain, was Billboard’s second-biggest album of the year, and its 20th-biggest of 1979. Grease produced four chart singles, including the #1s You’re the One That I Want by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John and the title track by Franki Valli. The album also included vocal performances by, among others, Frankie Avalon, Sha-Na-Na, and Stockard Channing. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

…to observe the world around him required not only tact but…emotional neutrality.
Gore Vidal
The Golden Age

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus are the two golfers who have the PGA Championship five times. 

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

Who was the second major league pitcher to strike out 3,000 batters? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/July 21, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

3…2…1…BLASTOFF: Longtime readers of ours know our opinion not only of the Apollo program, but also of our failure to put humans on Mars: one’s a triumph, the other a tragedy, both in more or less equal measure. 

Oh Hell, Here We Go: We’ve thought a lot over the years about why Apollo worked and why man has not left lower Earth orbit since. Part of it, of course, was that America happened to have the right people at the right time to respond to President Kennedy’s challenge. The Soviets gave it a good shot, and actually had their share of admirable firsts in space, but they were never able to do anything more than crash space capsules into the moon while Americans planted Old Glory on the moon’s surface six times and brought everyone back.  

This Isn’t Dry, Technical Matter, Is It?: The original plan for Apollo was for ten lunar landings. However, Apollos 18-20 were scrapped before the decade was out and plans for a manned Martian landing, still not off the drawing board, were scrapped too. 

The Verdict Is In: We’ve thought about why man hasn’t returned to the moon or gone to Mars a lot over the years and we’ve concluded that Apollo was ahead of its time. Proof of this, we think, can be found in the fact no one else has gone to the moon since. Sure, the glamor of being the first to land on the moon was lost to History, but there were other rewards waiting, including the impetus to go to Mars. No one else bothered, though. 

The Bottom Line: America taking a flier on going to Mars will always be a tragedy. Not only did we miss out on the scientific advances such a mission would’ve provided, but we shut down man’s age-old desire to explore and America and Americans stopped dreaming because there was no longer anything big to dream about. Apollo’s legacy is still waiting for everyone else to catch up. 

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has the latest news from the hotel’s remodeling. Today’s Diary. 

The room wings are all done except for a sign or two that needs to be put up and all that remains is the wallpapering in the stairwell and an area off the lobby…The lobby remodeling that was scheduled for this past spring has, reportedly, been put off until fall.   

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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 1861 – The Confederate Army defeats the Union Army at the First Battle of Bull Run in Manassas Junction, Virginia – about 30 miles southwest of Washington, DC – the first major battle of the Civil War. Both sides were evenly numbered, poorly led, and poorly trained and the Confederate victory was followed by a disorganized Union retreat. Despite being relatively close to Washington, Confederate troops, also somewhat disorganized, did not pursue a follow-up attack. 

In 1957 – Lionel Hebert of the US wins the PGA Championship, defeating Dow Finsterwald of the US 2 & 1 at the Miami Valley Golf Club in Dayton. (2 & 1 means the winner was two holes ahead with one to play.) It remains the only major championship for Hebert, while Finsterwald would win the PGA title the following year. It was the last year of match play competition in the PGA and Hebert earned $8,000 for the win, about $79,000 in today’s money. This remains the only major played at the Miami Valley Golf Club. 

In 1990 – Glenn Medeiros featuring Bobby Brown is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of two consecutive weeks with She Ain’t Worth It. It was the second of three Top 40 hits for Medeiros and remains his only #1 song and it was the second and final #1 song for Brown. The song also peaked at #12 in Great Britain and at #43 on Billboard’s soul chart. After his singing career, Medeiros become an educator, working as a teacher, professor, and administrator in his native Hawaii. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

But all that is yesterday. This…is the adventure now.
Gore Vidal
Lincoln

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Apollo 8 orbited the moon ten times. 

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

Who are the two golfers who have won five PGA Championships? – Answer next time!

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The Daily Dose/July 20, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™

Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience. 

Editor’s Note: Today’s Leading Off item has been trotted out for the past two years on July 20 and we see no reason to end that streak with fresh material. Except for some minor factual corrections, it runs as it did then.  

“WE COPY YOU DOWN EAGLE…”: Today is the 53nd anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on the moon and of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to walk on another heavenly body. 

Here We Go Again: Regular readers of this crap know our feelings on this matter: Apollo 11 – indeed, the entire Apollo program – was mankind’s finest hour, one of History’s few lines of demarcation separating all that came before from everything that followed. We mark the occasion every year in this space – either here or in On This Date, sometimes both – because we feel it’s important to look back and say “look what we did, not bad”.

We went to the moon! 

Fly In The Ointment: And we haven’t gone back since. Apollo 17 left the lunar surface in 1972 and not only haven’t we returned to the moon, no American, no human, has left lower Earth orbit since then. Our own opinion is that had we wanted to, America could have put humans on Mars in the 1980s but we didn’t want to. Congress canceled Apollos 18-20 and there never was a push to go to Mars. 

Dry, Technical Matter: Why this does not cause every one of us to go stand in the corner in shame is beyond me. Greatness – and its attendant failure – was there for the taking and America took a pass, ignoring man’s instinct to explore places they’ve never been. 

The Bottom Line: And we’re the lesser for it. For a while now, Americans have been content to be well-fed and well-entertained and we can no longer be bothered to pay attention to our government and we are reaping that harvest right now, with our country now at the midway point between relevance and oblivion.

Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually. 

The Diary of a Nobody – A guest tells Sparrow two groaner jokes. Today’s Diary. 

I forget the exact jokes, tho…One had to do with blondes flying to the sun at nite and the other had to do with a farmer cattle branding his son. 

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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 1969 – People from Earth walk on another celestial body for the first time when Americans Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon while Michael Collins remained in lunar orbit in the command module. Apollo 11 was the third mission to reach the moon; in May Apollo 10 had done everything but land and in December Apollo 8 orbited the moon. Armstrong and Aldrin spent two-and-a-half hours walking on the lunar surface and were the first of twelve humans to walk on ground other than Earth. 

In 1984 – Uwe Hohn of East Germany establishes a new world record in the javelin at a meet in East Berlin. Hohn threw 343 feet, 9.75 inches to break the record of 327 feet, 1.92 inches set by American Tom Petranoff in 1983. Hohn’s record lasted until 1986 when track and field officials moved the javelin’s center of gravity forward four centimeters and the current record is 323 feet, 1.1 inches, done by Jan Zelezny of the Czech Republic in 1996. 

In 1959 – Johnny Horton is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Sides chart – for the tenth and final consecutive week with The Battle of New Orleans. The song also went #1 pop in Australia and Canada, peaked at #16 in Great Britain, had earlier spent six weeks at #1 on the Hot 100, was Billboard’s #1 song of the year, and ranked 37th on Billboard’s 60th anniversary Hot 100 in 2018. It was the first of two country #1 songs for Horton and remains his only pop #1. 

Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.

We choose to go to the moon in this decade, and do other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills.
John F Kennedy
9/12/62

Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.

Rube Wahlberg, who pitched mainly with the Philadelphia Athletics, gave up 13 home runs to Babe Ruth, the most of any pitcher. 

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

How many times did Apollo 8 orbit the moon? – Answer next time!

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