It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life…
Monday, November 14
Proof that ol’ Sparrow will whine about absolutely anything – as we need further proof – can be found in the fact he was whining about the heater at the New Front Desk Area (NFDA) being up and running again…Recall the first couple of nites it had not been and it was chilly both nites, with yours truly bringing a sweater in last nite…(For convenience’s sake, we left it at the hotel.)
The Daily Dose/November 14, 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 does a welfare check. Today’s Diary.
We ring the room but there’s no answer, so Mr F and I head up to 227 and on the off chance Billy S is armed and looking to kill, ol’ Sparrow bravely stands off to the side while knocking and opening the door, letting Mr F enter to see what the deal was…
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On This Date
Extra, extra, read all about it.
In 1952 – The first regular record chart in Great Britain is published by New Musical Express magazine with Here In My Heart by Al Martino the first #1 song. Over the years, Elvis has the most #1 songs in Great Britain with 21, while Paul McCartney has the most appearances at #1, 25, counting his time with the Beatles, Wings, and as a solo act. The biggest song in British chart history is I Believe by Frankie Laine, which spent 18 weeks at #1 in 1953. The official British chart is now published by the Official Charts Company.
In 1993 – Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins establishes a new NFL record for most regular-season and playoff wins in a 19-14 win over the Philadelphia Eagles. It was Shula’s 325 career win, eclipsing the record established by George Halas of the Decatur Staleys/Chicago Staleys/Chicago Bears in four separate stints from 1920-67. Shula retired after the 1995 season with 347 career wins, a record that still stands. Shula also holds the record for most regular-season wins with 328.
In 2020 – Lauren Daigle is at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian Singles chart for the 110th of 132 non-consecutive weeks You Say, tying the record for most weeks at #1 on any Billboard chart. Daigle tied the record set by Wendy Carlos – then known as Walter Carlos – who spent 110 non-consecutive weeks at #1 on Billboard’s Classical Album chart from 1969-72 with Switched-On Bach. You Say first hit #1 on the Christian chart in July 2018 and in March 2019 peaked at #30 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
These were, he now assured himself…adventures on the journey of the Fool, guided by intuition and governed by a morality that was not to everybody’s taste.
Robertson Davies
The Lyre of Orpheus
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The NHL record for most minutes in a career by a goaltender is 74,438 – the equivlelent of about 51 days – by Martin Brodeur, from 1991-2015.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Which NFL head coach who is in the Top 10 in career wins has the most career losses? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/November 13, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
The Sunday Bottom 5
A ranking of some things.
1. 2022 Midterms – Though not every race decided, Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters “pretty sure” the country will remain standing which was hardly guaranteed earlier in the week…Still, tho, America merely recycles the same people and parties, signaling to themselves and the world they still are not ready to make substantive changes to the way they are governed.
2. Daylight savings time – Bill passed by US Senate would make DST the new standard time, eliminating changing clocks twice a year…(In the House, the bill has been referred to a subcommittee.)…It doesn’t really matter, as time is a human construct anyway…DST had its origins in Europe as an energy conservation measure during World War I.
3. USA! USA! -The three (3)-hole staple…Don’t let the relatively calm midterms fool you: America is still circling the drain…With three-quarters of US kids too fat or dumb to join the Army, and with the country $31.2 trillion in debt, and with perpetual war still a thing, America remains closer to the oblivion awaiting her than the respect and prosperity she once had.
4. Britney Griner – While Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters officially reissue their call to know and respect the laws of foreign countries, it’s difficult not to feel for anyone being sent to a Russian prison camp, and just in time for winter, to boot…Fortunately, as a tall, Black woman, Griner should not stand out and draw undue attention to herself.
5. Jeff Saturday – New Indianapolis Colts head coach has first head coaching gig since running a high school team, but the Colts are done for 2022 anyway and, besides, you never know when genius will strike…However, Sunday Bottom 5 pollsters “pretty sure” the name of Colts’ owner “Irsay” has never been synonymous with “NFL genius” so, like you, SB5 pollsters are taking a wait-and-see attitude.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
It’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at The Diary. This means today’s entry is on the house.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow has a great week in the sack. Today’s Diary.
8.0 hours for the day and 55.0 hours for the week, both marvelous totals, and regular readers of this crap know that 55.0 hours is only 3.0 hours off our PB for a week.
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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 1956 – The way is cleared for the Montgomery Bus Boycott to end when the United States Supreme Court rules that Alabama laws requiring segregated buses are unconstitutional. The boycott had started in December 1955 after Rosa Parks, a black woman, was arrested for not surrendering her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white. (In Montgomery, the first ten rows of seats were reserved for whites, the back ten for blacks, with the middle rows unreserved.) The boycott would officially end in December.
In 1968 – Robbie Irons of the St Louis Blues makes his only NHL appearance and establishes the record for fewest career minutes by a goaltender in a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers. Irons entered the game early in the first period after Glenn Hall was ejected and, on orders from head coach Scotty Bowman, faked an injury to allow Jacques Plante – who had not dressed for the game – more time to prepare…Irons played 2 minutes and 59 seconds, a mark that was tied by Christian Soucy of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1993-94 season, and the record is now 7.6 seconds, by Jorge Alves, the equipment manager for the Carolina Hurricanes, in the 2016-17 season.
In 1961 – Jimmy Dean is at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the second of five consecutive weeks with Big, Bad, John. The song also went to #1 in New Zealand, peaked at #2 in Great Britain, and at #1 on Billboard’s country chart. It was the first of seven Top 40 hits for Dean, his first of two Top 10 hits and remains his only #1 pop hit and was his first of two #1 country songs. The song also won the Grammy Award for Best Country and Western Recording.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
We should constantly be reminded of what we owe in return for what we have.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
The NHL record for the longest undefeated streak is 35 by the 1979-80 Philadelphia Flyers.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Who holds the NHL record for most minutes played by a goaltender? – Answer next time!
Cheapskates rejoice! It’s Read Free Sunday (RFS) at the Diary.
It’s Sparrow, an average man passing an average life…
Saturday, November 12
The winter coat made its seasonal debut tonite…It was 12 degrees when we left for the hotel and it’s only going to get colder the rest of the week, too, with the first highs below freezing coming up, tho the first below-zero temps aren’t on the horizon yet…Based on past winters here, tho, they are probably on the way.
The Daily Dose/November 12, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Friends, your Daily Dose is taking the day off.
Click here to read today’s Diary of a Nobody entry.
Thank you for reading,
Gaylon
The Daily Dose/November 11, 2022
By Gaylon Kent – America’s Funniest Guy™
Leading Off
Notes from around the human experience.
Editor’s Note: today’s Leading Off item originally ran – with a few minor changes – on Veterans Day 2017 and has run regularly since.
TEN HUT!: You know, honestly, we cannot remember Veterans Day being the big deal it is today while growing up. And we come from a family of many veterans, being the son, brother, grandson, cousin, and nephew of vets.
9/11 changed that, of course, because since 9/11 – when first responders became heroes – the reverence for veterans has grown, too. We are routinely thanked for our service now, which never used to happen before 9/11, and on Veterans Day we could scam complimentary meals left and right if moved so to do.
FunFact: We generally don’t go out of our way to do that, though. On the other hand, we don’t throw a tantrum if we’re not presented with a check.
What A Surprise, Dry, Technical Matter. November 11 has been an American holiday since 1938, born out of the earlier celebrations of the armistice that ended the major fighting in World War I at 11 am on November 11, 1918. Originally known as Armistice Day, it became Veterans Day in 1954.
War Is Hell: Fighting continued right up until the eleventh hour, too. Some units didn’t want to make themselves vulnerable by yielding an advantage while some didn’t want to have to haul their ammo away and others wanted the best possible position should fighting start again. In all, over 2,700 men died on November 11, including a Canadian two minutes before peace took effect and an American at 10:59.
USA! USA!: Life in the service was pretty routine for most of us. Personally, we served on an old diesel submarine, the USS Blueback, the last diesel combat submarine in the United States Navy. We’re still pretty young and if we get regular exercise and watch between-meal treats one day we might well be the last diesel boat veteran in this country.
Fly In The Ointment: Some, of course, did not serve routine tours. Some died in the service of their country and some contributed exploits we are still talking about today. Some are not entirely pleased with their service and too many are homeless and each day an average of 22 vets will kill themselves, choosing to continue their service on heaven’s parade ground.
The Bottom Line: Looking back at honorable service to your country is one of life’s great prizes and that in itself is thanks enough, though if you want to thank a vet today, feel free.
Today At The Site
Writing worth reading. Usually.
The Diary of a Nobody – Sparrow ran into a lot of people in the gym. Today’s Diary.
…and while the Smith machine was available we couldn’t find a goddamned bench that was free…I am not making that up…There are a dozen or so in the weight area and they were all being used and you don’t have to be Armold to know you can’t bench press without a bench so we did the cable chest press.
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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 1921 – The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is dedicated at Arlington National Cemetery by President Warren Harding. The remains of a World War I veteran were interred and since then unknowns from other wars have joined him. The tomb is always guarded by members of the US Army’s Old Guard who do not show their rank so as not to outrank the Unknowns. Unknowns are all awarded the Medal of Honor and the tomb does not have an official name.
In 1944 – The New York Rangers end their NHL-record longest winless streak with a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings. The Rangers had not won in 25 consecutive games (0-21-4) dating back to the previous season and their last win had come on January 22. The Rangers had broken the record of 19 consecutive winless games they had established in the 1943-44 season and their record was broken in the 1975-76 season by both the Washington Capitals (25) and the Kansas City Scouts (27) and his now held by the Winnipeg Jets, who went 30 consecutive games without a win in the 1980-81 season.
In 1989 – Kathy Mattea is at #1 on Billboard’s country chart – then known as the Hot Country Singles chart – for the only week with Burnin’ Old Memories. It was the tenth of eleven consecutive Top 10 country hits for Mattea and her fourth and final #1 song in a chart career that ran from 1983-2000. The song also went #4 country in Canada and was Billboard’s 33rd-biggest country song of the year.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been.
Sophocles
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Besides Ray Leonard, the other two fighters to defeat Marvin Hagler were Bobby Watts (majority decision) and Willie Monroe (unanimous decision), both in 1976.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Which team holds the NHL record for the longest undefeated streak? – Answer next time!
The Daily Dose/November 10, 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 investigates a loud ice machine at the hotel. Today’s Diary.
Ol’ Sparrow goes up to investigate and…look[s] at it in his usual fashion: crossly with his hands on his hips…In the Upset of the Year, this appears to be working because after a few minutes there hasn’t been any noise except for some running water, so we head down the wing to get our hotel walk in and we were all the way down the hall and had even turned right and were in front of 243 when BOOM the ice machine drops a load and we’re surprised it didn’t register on the Richter scale because it was pretty loud…
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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 1951 – Direct-dial, coast-to-coast telephone service begins in the United States, with the implementation of the North American Numbering Plan. The plan divides member territories into areas identified by an area code (which had first appeared in 1947), then a telephone’s location is further specified bu a three-digit central office code and a four-digit station number. The system originally had 86 geographic area codes and today the number is 357.
In 1983 – Marvin Hagler retains his undisputed middleweight boxing title with a 15-round unanimous decision over Roberto Duran at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Hagler would later lose his WBC title to Ray Leonard but would retire as the WBA and IBF champion. Duran was the WBA junior middleweight champion at the time, a title he would be stripped of the following year. It was the eighth title defense for Hagler since winning it from Alan Minter in 1980.
In 1979 – The Eagles are at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the only week with Heartache Tonight. It was the ninth of eleven Top 10 hits for the group and their fifth and final #1 song. In 1983 a version by Conway Twitty peaked at #6 on Billboard’s country chart and the song was written by Don Henley, Glen Frey, Bob Seger, and J.D. Souther. The song also went to #1 in Canada, peaked at #40 in Great Britain, and due to charting in both the 1979 and 1980 chart years was Billboard’s 47th-biggest song of 1980.
Some Philosophy Crap
The wisdom of the ages. Whatever.
…the division was bound to widen between the many who felt and the few who thought.
Gore Vidal
Washington, D.C.
Answer To The Last Trivia Question
Knowledge is power.
Of the twelve men who walked on the moon, four are still alive: Buzz Aldrin, 92, David Scott, 90, and Charles Duke and Harrison Schmidt, both 87.
Today’s Stumper
Match wits with Gaylon. It’s not that hard.
Besides Ray Leonard, who were the other two fighters to defeat Marvin Hagler? – Answer next time!
